Ukranian-born Michael Serhyniuk, who died of cancer of May 5, went on to become a long serving-member of the village's OAP Association.

Born in 1925, he was being educated at college when Poland fell to the Germans and his country was occupied by the Russian army in the Second World War.

Then Hitler's forces invaded Ukraine, but when they were forced back toward the end of the war, Mr Serhyniuk decided he would leave home rather than live under the Russian's again.

He said goodbye to his parents, who he would never see alive again, and trekked across war-ravaged Europe.

Mr Serhyniuk walked through Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Yugoslavia and, when he reached Italy, he was offered work in England. He arrived in the UK penniless but fluent in seven different languages.

In 1947 Mr Serhyniuk met his wife Kathleen while he worked at an Army Camp in Bordon, Hampshire.

They moved to Leamington in 1950 and later had a daughter, Christine.

Mr Serhyniuk was in charge of the Lockheed print room for 25 years before he started his own printing business in Warwick.

At Mr Serhyniuk's funeral at St Mary's Church on May 15, the association's vice president Keith Timms paid tribute to the 83-year-old who dedicated more than 27 years to the group.

Mr Timms said: "He was very precise in all he did and his fondness for the pensioners showed in the way he handled affairs to give more benefits as the association became more prosperous.

"Adamant that everything should be free for the pensioners he demanded the best that could be afforded.

"He was particularly proud to receive the Courier New Year Honours award in 2002 on behalf of the association for their outstanding service to the community."

He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding on September 9, 2000. Mr Timms said: "He was revered around Cubbington and he was a very intelligent bloke."