A former manager of the Emery Gate shopping centre in Chippenham has died aged 69.

Anthony Bernard Bud' Wainwright died on July 4. His funeral was held at West Wiltshire Crematorium on Wednesday. Mr Wainwright, of Coniston Road, Chippenham, was well known for his managerial role at Emery Gate and for his work with the Royal Air Force Association.

He was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1936 and volunteered for the RAF in 1955. He started his career as a physical training instructor and later qualified as an instructor for the Parachute Training School at RAF Abingdon, and participated in the Royal Tournament at Earl's Court.

He qualified for air crew in 1968 and relocated to RAF Lyneham where he began service as an Air Loadmaster, which continued until 1991, during which time he served on Hercules, Nimrod and Tri-Star aeroplanes.

During the course of his career Mr Wainwright was stationed at Bridgnorth, Anstruther, Abingdon, Kinloss and Lyneham, as well as in Germany, Singapore, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands.He retired from the RAF in 1991 with the rank of Warrant Officer.

Following his move to civilian life, Mr Wainwright became deputy manager at Emery Gate shopping centre in 1992 and took over as manager two years later, where he worked until his retirement in 2001. He remained dedicated to the RAF and maintained memberships of the RAF Association, the PTS Canopy Club and the Royal British Legion.

He was also active in the local community with the Chamber of Commerce. He met his wife-to-be Doreen in Wakefield in 1955 at an August bank holiday flower show and the couple married in 1958.

The couple had three sons, Dale (deceased), Gary and James and four grandchildren, Kirsten, Erin, William and Alex.