RETIRED bank manager of Newport's Lloyds branch, George Simpkins, has died on May 17, aged 94.
Born in Bath, he was educated at King Edward's School in the town and joined Lloyds Bank on leaving school in 1939.
When he was 20, Mr Simpkins was conscripted into the Royal Armoured Corps, based at Bovington, Dorset.
Following six months at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, from where he graduated as a second lieutenant, he served in Cairo, Egypt, and then in the Italian campaign with the 51st Royal Tank Regiment.
With hostilities almost over, Mr Simpkins stayed on in Italy in an administrative role at Caserta Castle HQ, near Naples, and was promoted to captain.
On his return to Great Britain in 1946, he re-joined the Lloyds Bank branch in Bath and was transferred to Malmesbury, where he met and married Peggy in 1953.
Mr Simpkins's banking career continued, with further posts at branches in Devizes, Midsomer Norton, Hereford, Taunton, Calne and the Island's Newport branch, where he served as its manager for 11 years.
He retired in 1982.
During this time with the bank, Mr Simpkins was a member of the Round Table and the 41 Club.
He was also a treasurer for the Abbeyfield and was appointed a tax commissioner for the Island.
In his spare time, Mr Simpkins was a keen golfer, who played at the Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club for many years.
He was a life-long supporter of Bath Rugby Union Football Club and Somerset County Cricket Club. He had played rugby with his old school team up until the age of 27.
Mr Simpkins is survived by children, Julie and Clive, and four grandchildren.
His funeral service will be held at the IW Crematorium, Whippingham, at 2.15pm on Thursday, June 22.