IN 50 years of work, quiet hero Bert Webb had just two jobs.

The first 25 years he served with the Royal Navy - in the second period he helped ensure The Hereford Times reached its readers.

Mr Webb, aged 83 has died at his home in Ledbury Road, Hereford and his funeral will take place at St Paul's Church at Tupsley today, Thursday November 1.

Few people who remember Mr Webb in the publishing department at the HT and later as chief circulation rep knew of his meritorious naval career.

He joined the Senior Service at the age of 15 and served on almost every battleship and destroyer, vessels which took him all over the world.

Mr Webb was on duty throughout the whole of the second World War and saw action on such ships as the Resolution, the Courageous, the Ramalies and the Nelson.

He was a survivor of HMS Swift when it was sunk by a German mine off the Normandy landings.

Distinguished service

During the war Mr Webb was often on escort duty protecting convoys carrying much wanted supplies to Russia. These trips have been described as among the most hazardous of all wartime operations.

His speciality in the service was as a gunner, responsible for firing the biggest of guns.

One of these guns, from the Ramalies, now stands outside the Imperial War Museum in London.

Mr Webb, who became a Chief Petty Officer and was Mentioned in Despatches later went all over the world to help train other gunners.

He left the Royal Navy in 1958, a year later joined Berrows Newspapers in Worcester before transferring to The Hereford Times.

He became involved in the activities of Hereford Sea Cadets drawing on his own experiences in their training.

Mr Webb retired in 1983 to enjoy his garden. He is survived by his wife Myra, sons Ian, Graham and Gordon, and daughter Gail.

The funeral service is at 2.15pm and donations for the Herefordshire branch of Alzheimer's are welcome.