Physicist Ryszard Surawy died on May 17 at the age of 68.

Mr Surawy was born on February 4, 1938 in Poland and moved to England with his family as refugees after the Second World War in 1946.

In 1955 he met wife-to-be Eleanor, who was training in secretarial skills at the Regent Street Polytechnic and the couple married on July 7, 1961. Mr Surawy was a physicist and studied at Brunel College in Acton, London during the 1960s, before joining forces with colleagues to set up a new company in Ross-on-Wye, called Meccasonics Ltd.

The company began in 1971 and specialised in ultrasonic testing techniques for the aviation industry. He was a director for around 30 years. In 1973 Mr and Mrs Surawy moved to Marshfield Road in Chippenham, choosing the town for its communication links because Mr Surawy travelled all over the world as part of his job.

The couple had three children, Tessa, Irena and Chris, and three grandchildren, Kieran, Sean and Kate. Mr Surawy is survived by his brother Stefan. The funeral will take place at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Chippenham at midday today.