Mr Bill Rossi.
A FORMER Royal Air Force flight mechanic and a character well known in Newport, Bill Rossi, died at St Mary’s Hospital on Sunday), aged 90.
Born in Newport on July 26, 1921, Mr Rossi was the second of six children to Naples-born Antonio and Alice, who hailed from Dover.
Mr Rossi, who attended Barton School, Newport, married Joan (nee McCarthy) at Sts Thomas Church, Newport, on July 10, 1948.
Throughout the war, Mr Rossi served in the RAF as a flight mechanic, working on Spitfires.
He later worked as a salesman for W. J. Rugg and Co, based at Holyrood Street, Newport, selling tobacco and confectionery to IW outlets.
Mr Rossi was a life member, as is his wife, of Newport Victoria Sports Club, playing tennis, table tennis and petanque for The Tankers.
He was also chairman of the IW Lambretta Club, known as 'The Gannets’, in the 1960s and went on rallies around the Island and Britain.
His funeral will be held at the Minster Church at 11am on Monday, followed by interment at Fairlee Cemetery.
Mr Rossi leaves his wife, sister Eva Locke, 97, of Newport, and his extended family of nieces and nephews.
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