CECIL Watts, one of the family which created the Watts Group of companies in Lydney has died peacefully, aged 93.

Mr Watts was the twin brother of Melville Watts, who died in 2010, and was married to Joan and father to Lawrence, Helen and Christine, and grandfather to Miles, Maximilian, Caroline and Ronan.

He was educated at Wycliffe College, Stonehouse, but was evacuated to Lampeter shortly after the outbreak of war. He later joined the RAF and flew in wartime as a navigator.

He was a keen pilot wth his own plane which bore the registration G-TYRE, and ran the Watts Aviation Division for 30 years, retaining a keen interest in the company’s affairs after retirement.

Like his brother, Cecil was a passionate advocate for Lydney Hospital.

His nephew John Thurston, Watts Group chairman, said: “Cecil was a very gentle and caring person who had a great love of music and poetry.

“He was particularly fond of the poetry of Will Harvey who lived locally and he was able to attend the dedication of a stained glass window in his memory at St Peter’s Church, Minsterworth in November.

“In some ways Cecil and Melville were opposites but, nevertheless they were always very close.”

The funeral service will be held at St Mary’s and St Peter’s Church, Tidenham, on Wednesday, January 18.