A WAR hero who excelled in the sporting and business worlds has died at the age of 87.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Braithwaite OBE was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

He was honoured during the Second World War for the part he played in wiping out a 24-strong German tank division in one successful engagement.

He trained as a stockbroker and became senior partner with the Newcastle firm of Male, Kinsella and Wilkinson.

In his youth, he played tennis for Northumberland and at Wimbledon. A single-handicap golfer, he played at Gosforth Park and Ponteland.

He lived at Eland Hall, near Ponteland, with his wife, Eileen, until his later years, after her death, when he moved to a nursing home in Ovingham. He leaves two sons.

Lt Col Braithwaite died on December 31 in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. A private funeral service is due to be held next week at Milbourne Church