TRIBUTES have been paid to a Newton Aycliffe war veteran and club stalwart who died the day before his 50th wedding anniversary.

Joe Burke, 79, was one of the founder members of the Newton Aycliffe branch of the Royal British Legion Club and was a well-known and popular figure in the town for more than 40 years.

Mr Burke was one of a group of ex-servicemen who got together to establish the club in 1959.

He was involved in the fundraising efforts which helped build the club's premises, which opened in Macmillan Road in 1961.

Since then, he has held a variety of positions in the branch and was chairman for the past 12 years.

Club secretary Jack Robinson said: "Everybody respected him. He has been absolutely marvellous for this club.

"He was very well respected in the town, always a pleasant man and a gentleman with a good word for everybody. He will be greatly missed."

Originally from Ryton, Northumberland, Mr Burke was an aircraft fitter and served in Singapore and South Africa during the Second World War.

He became a bus driver after the war, and met his wife, Margaret, who was a bus conductress.

The couple married in 1953. They settled in Newton Aycliffe in 1957, and Mr Burke worked as a fitter at the Eaton Axle company in the town.

The couple have three children: David, Ann and Jean; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mr Burke died of heart failure at his home in Sheraton Road, Newton Aycliffe, last Thursday, days after his wife's 70th birthday and one day before they were due to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Mrs Burke said: "He will be greatly missed in this house. He loved his family and his family always came first, but the Legion was his second home.

"We had a wonderful 70th birthday party for me last Sunday. It was such a big surprise. He didn't know anything about it and he really enjoyed that day."

Mr Burke's funeral service will be held at St Clare's Church, Newton Aycliffe, tomorrow, at 10.45am