CHRIS was one of five children, three boys and two girls, who were born in London to Beatrice and Lawrence Smith. He moved to North Somerset with the rest of his family as evacuees during the Second World War when he was aged two.

Initially they lived on a farm in Hewish but later moved to Moorfield House in Silver Street, Nailsea, which they shared with another evacuee family.

His niece Sue Evans, of Greenfield Crescent, Nailsea, said: "Life was good on the farm and his mum was lucky to have a job there.

"During school holidays the children were packed off to their nan's home at Dawlish, where they spent most of their time swimming."

Chris rode around the village selling goats milk, often with school friend Geoff Stamp riding on the cross bar of his bike.

When the family eventually moved on to the Tyntesfield estate with other evacuee families, he became close friends with Kenny Whitham and Ron Port.

It was a small, close community with its own club house and the boys spent fun times building go carts from prams.

At aged 16 Chris and Ron had a job working in a garage in Congresbury, where they would cycle each day, sometimes getting a free tow from a passing lorry.

After leaving the Army, Chris had many different jobs, from farm work to building.

He moved to Chester where his marriage broke down and he became a single parent to his sons Leon and Robbie and daughter, Sharron.

He worked at the local lead works before becoming a caretaker at a Barnardo's orphanage.

He was an avid Liverpool FC supporter and his other hobbies included playing pool, darts, fishing, crosswords, cards and a flutter on the horses. He also enjoyed making wooden toys for the children and only recently made a highchair for his great niece.

Although he lived in Chester he still regarded Nailsea as a second home returning twice a year to his sister Jenny and late brother-in-law Dave Turton, of Nailsea Park, for holidays.

Sue added: "He was young at heart and a warm-hearted man who lived life to the full, even when he was ill.

"We are very proud of him – he was a great father, granddad, brother and uncle."