What sad news!
Although I only met him a couple of times he struck me as a man who had a ready laugh and really enjoyed life. He was on the flight line at OW only last year and I had no idea he might be ill.
As a fellow designer of sport scale models I looked up to him and in my earlier modelling years built a couple of his eminently buildable designs (Pup and 1,1/2 strutter) before launching out to design my own.
Another of his life achievements was his shop in Wellingborough.
He was a man who enriched the lives of many of us and for whose life we are grateful.
My condolences to the family.