A FORMER North-East postmaster and Second World War RAF pilot died last week.

Grandfather-of-three Malcolm Bartram was born in 1921 and raised in Saltburn, east Cleveland. He briefly got a job at the Redcar steelworks after leaving school, before working for the Post Office, eventually becoming a postmaster in Scotland and Tyneside, before moving to Barnard Castle 40 years ago.

During the Second World War, Mr Bartram was a pilot with the RAF. He flew Liberator aircraft as part of coastal command, for which he received several medals.

He was based at RAF Yatesbury and spent time in the US, Canada and India during his training.

Mr Bartram followed in his father’s footsteps to become a Freemason and eventually became master of a lodge.

When he retired from the Post Office, at 61, after spending 16 years behind the counter in Barnard Castle, he took up golf and enjoyed bowling.

Mr Bartram, who died last Tuesday, aged 91, is survived by his wife, Olive, to whom he was married for 62 years, his children, Pamela and Graham, son-in-law John, daughter-inlaw Linda, and grandchildren Andrea, Rachael and Lewis.

His son, Graham, said: “He always had a very good sense of humour and was a pillar of the community. Back in the days when the Post Office was at the centre of the community, even in a big place like Barnard Castle, he was the one who important people and businesses went to to get things done. He was a gentleman.”

Mr Bartram’s funeral is at Darlington Crematorium, on Friday, at 2.45pm. Family flowers only. Donations will be taken for the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK.