A SECOND World War veteran, who was a member of the Royal British Legion for 20 years, has died at the age of 90.

Raymond Taylor, who served in the York and Lancaster Regiment, died at Old Gates Nursing Home in Blackburn after suffering from a brain tumour.

Mr Taylor lived in Barley Bank Street, Darwen, for around 50 years and served as vice-president of the legion for about seven years.

He leaves behind wife Irene, who he was married to for more than 60 years, his three children, David, Carolyn and Philip, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr Taylor’s son David, 63, said he was a ‘modest’ ex-serviceman who loved sport, socialising and dancing.

He said: “Dad always had a story to tell and everyone had time for him.

“He was always modest when he talked about the war and what he did and like everyone who fought he was shocked by what he saw and the devastation that followed.

“He continued to look and act like an ex-serviceman all his life.He loved to dress well and wanted to give back to all the current soldiers by being part of the legion.

“Aside from being part of the war, he was a big Blackburn Rovers fan for a long time, but eventually fell out with them as many people have.

“But he always continued to take an interest in football and loved talking about sport with friends at the pub.

“He was a pretty good dancer too.”

Mr Taylor was seen selling poppies outside market in Darwen year after year and one of his proudest moments was marching at the Cenotaph in London, his family said.

During his military service, Mr Taylor fought in Holland, Germany and Italy and moved onto Austria when peace was declared in 1945 to guard some of the most prominent Nazi figures ahead of the Nuremberg trials.

For a long time he worked as an assembler at Blackburn’s Mullard and Philips before moving on to briefly work a textile firm in Darwen.

David said: “He worked hard as a dad to raise the three of us.

“Like any dad of the 50s he was stern at first but got softer when we got older and then ever softer when he had grandchildren.

“He had a lot of love for his wife and they worked hard at their marriage and looked after each other.”

Lawrence Gilbertson, chairman of the Darwen branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “He was a real gentleman and proud ex-serviceman.

“He was always at events and he will be sadly missed by us all.”