TRIBUTES have been paid to a Knutsford former paratrooper who died just weeks before celebrating his 100th birthday.

Harry Pexton of Manor Crescent, was 99 when he died on July 15 at Belvedere Nursing Home in Alderley Edge and would have turned 100 on August 20, 2016.

He spent his youth dedicated to the parachute regiment where he was made Lance Corporal, acquiring the nickname ‘Lucky’ for his escapades during his secret mission in the Second World War, which led him to Knutsford where he met and would settle with his wife Kath for more than 60 years.

Harry, survived by his daughters, Jane and Anne, has been described as the ‘best dad, granddad and great-granddad’.

Jane O’Neill, Harry’s daughter, said: “He was the best dad, grandad and great granddad we could wish for. As a member of the SAS he had a lovely service with full military honours.

“Thank you to everyone who attended and made the day so special and a huge thanks to the Parachute Regimental Association for all their input and the serving solidiers that carried his coffin. He would have loved it. I am so proud to call Harry Pexton my dad.”

Harry, who was a ‘staunch supporter’ of Manchester United and a music lover, arrived in Knutsford shortly after joining the army aged 22 in 1938.

Inspired by his father, who was a military man, Harry signed up for a ‘special mission’ without being aware of what it was.

The training for the ‘special mission’, was in the Knutsford area, and before long Harry was shipped off on ‘Operation Colossus’, which involved being dropped by parachute into Italy to destroy an aqueduct, and then after a march to the coast, be picked up by submarine.

The submarine did not arrive and Harry was part of the group which was captured before being thrown into an Italian prisoner of war camp for the remainder of the Second World War.

Once Harry had returned from his mysterious disappearance, he married Kath on his birthday, August 20 1945 at St Vincent’s in Knutsford and there were married for 64 years, receiving a card from the Queen.

The couple had four daughters, but Sue died in 1975 and Catherine died shortly after she was born.

During his eulogy Harry was described as a ‘very hands-on dad’. The eulogy went on to say. “He was always interested and involved in everything his girls were doing; always welcoming to their friends, and would do anything for his family.”

Harry’s service was held on July 29.