A former Royal Navy radio operator who served in the North Atlantic during the Second World War has died at the age of 87.

Leslie (Les) Morgan, from Sherborne, was born in Churchdown, Gloucestershire, in 1923, the second child of Harry and Muriel Morgan.

He spent his childhood in Gloucestershire where he carried out a variety of jobs before starting an apprenticeship in the engineering industry.

The apprenticeship was cut short by the war, when he was initially in the Home Guard before being old enough to join the Royal Navy.

He served as a radio operator in the North Atlantic, working on minesweepers and convoy ships.

After the war, Les went back to engineering. On a visit to his sister in Somerset he met Beryl at a dance at Stoke village hall, and moved down to the area permanently, marrying Beryl in 1951 and settling down in Nether Compton where they had two daughters, Yvette and Nina. Initially working for Garador, Les eventually worked for DC Engineering in Sherborne, which was taken over by Unigate and finally by Wincanton Desco.

Working his way up from the shop floor, Les eventually became general manager at the Sherborne site.

Les later moved to Westlands as a cost control engineer, where he worked up until his retirement. Les was determined to have an active retirement, carrying on with the ballroom dancing that he and Beryl so enjoyed.

He also continued with his gardening and enthusiasm for electrical and mechanical gadgets. In particular he took up amateur radio, going to evening classes to gain his licence as a Morse Code operator, and enjoyed going to radio rallies and getting in contact with other enthusiasts across the UK and even Europe through his radio.

He also volunteered as a driver for the disabled and community bus, transporting people from the villages around Sherborne so they could attend day centres.

In his later years, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and although he gradually became less mobile, Les never lost his sense of humour and enjoyment of his family.

A thanksgiving service was held on June 4 at Yeovil Crematorium, celebrating the life of Les, who passed away at Yeovil Hospital on May 20. The service was led by Bill Chapman.