MILITARY figures and those involved in Gwent's civic and charitable life are today saying farewell to Major Sam Jones who has died at the age of 82.

Following a distinguished Army career including active service during the Malaya and Borneo crises, Major Jones became Gwent county secretary for the Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmen's and Families Association, a post which he occupied from 1982 for 10 years.

Major Jones was born in Liverpool on May 27, 1927 and during World War Two was conscripted as a 'Bevin Boy' serving underground at a colliery in North Wales.

In 1946 just after the end of the war when the time came for him to do his national military service he joined the Royal Artillery doing his basic training first at Brecon and then at Deepcut Barracks.

The young soldier was soon spotted for officer material and, having decided to extend his period of service in the Army was commissioned in October 1947.

In the days when the Army's air defence capability consisted largely of anti-aircraft guns rather than the missiles that were to supplant them, his skills and training in this field were made full use of at units based in the United Kingdom and Germany.

When British forces were ordered to restore stability to Malaya and Borneo he commanded 42 battery, 22 Regiment, Royal Artillery which, until its disbanding a few years ago, was the regular Army 'twin' of the Newport-based 104 Regiment.

It was during a posting to Raglan Barracks in Newport that the young Lieutenant Jones met his wife-to-be Gillian who was serving in the TA.

They were married at St Woolos' Cathedral in 1951 and were to have six chldren.

Margaret, the eldest, served in the Women's Royal Army Corps and her sister Jane served for 10 years in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Martin was commissioned following university and Peter served in the Iraq war retiring as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Logistics Corps.

The other children are Sarah and Rowena.

It was Gillian who had an interest in SSAFA even before Major Jones came to Newport and who persuaded him to devote much of his retirement to the cause of former and serving members of the three services and their families who found themselves beset by difficulties.

The work was to take on an even greater momentum after the Iraq Wars and the conflict in Afghanistan.

Gillian's father had fishing rights on the River Usk and persuaded Major Jones that angling was the perfect retirement hobby.

"He took to it like the proverbial duck to water" Gillian recalls. "I remained somewhat less enthusiastic!"

Right up until his death, which followed a short illness, Major Jones was a keen supporter of the Newport-based 104 Regiment and a convivial and popular member of the officers' mess where in company with Gillian he rarely missed the mess' celebrated curry lunches.

Visitors to the family home in Newport were made welcome and if the time of day were appropriate were served with truly heroic gins and tonic.

Among the many tributes were those from 104 Regiment, SSAFA Forces Help and associated charities and the Royal Artillery Officers' Association of which Major Jones was a keen member.

Association chairman Colonel Basil Watkins said: "Sam was a thoughtful man but great fun and he loved his fishing.

"His death is a great loss to the Royal Artillery family."

The funeral service is being held at St John's Maindee today at noon followed by cremation.