Great granDfather Ken Devereux realised his dream.

Awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to the veterans, he with five other old soldiers organised a Teesside branch of the Eighth Army Veterans Association about 28 years ago.

In an interview with The Northern Echo, in 1998, the ex-Mathilda tank driver said: "We are getting older and dying off. Next year may be our last reunion, although I would like us to make it to the millennium.''

The last reunion took place earlier this year and Mr Devereux died this week after a second stroke, aged 82.

A well-known character, Mr Devereux cheated death in the western desert during the Second World War, when his tank received a direct hit from a much-feared German 88 gun.

He escaped, although badly injured, but his two crewmates were killed.

He founded the Billingham-based Devereux and Sons removal firm with one lorry before war broke out.

The company now has 100 commercial vehicles and 250 trailers, and operates across the world.

Although officially retired, he reported for work every Tuesday and still hand made air freight boxes for his removal teams.

He would hunt auctions, returning to the plant with balks of timber, bought at bargain prices.

"He always had an eye for a bargain," said his eldest son, Mike.

His father lived at Yarm and leaves a widow, Catherine and children, Mike, Barbara, Ken and Tony.

A requiem mass will be held at St Mary's RC Church, Crathorne, on Saturday, followed by cremation at St Bede's Chapel, Teesside Crematorium.