Friends and colleagues of a former mayor of Thame have paid tribute to the “intelligent, exuberant and charming” man this week after he sadly lost his battle with cancer.

Councillor Mike Welply had represented the town for more than 15 years and even took on mayoral duties in 2002.

However, friends have now recalled with fondness a number of his incredible tales, including journeys through the jungles of Malaya and trips in the Middle Eastern country of Oman while he served for the Royal Air Force.

Fellow councillor, Nigel Champken Woods, said he thought he had probably known Mike for longer than anyone on the council but had not realised until swapping stories about their time in the RAF.

He said: “In the late 60’s Mike was an RAF Regiment Officer based in Bahrain in the Gulf and I was also based there working on RAF Argosy aircraft, providing a shuttle between Bahrain and all the forward operating bases in the Gulf.

“On one memorable occasion I was acting as temporary crew and we dropped an RAF Officer off at one of the forward operating bases but had to leave in a hurry for operational reasons, leaving him behind ‘without even a clean pair of underpants’ to use his words.

“It wasn’t until at a town council event when Mike and I were comparing notes that we discovered that he was that RAF Regiment Officer. He did forgive me, eventually.

“Mike was a larger than life character dedicated to the town and its people, I for one will certainly miss him. Per ardua ad astra.”

After thirty years in the service he became a civil servant at the Ministry of Defence and more recently a security consultant while also starting a career in politics.

As well as representing the town council for more than a decade he was also a South Oxfordshire District Councillor and was elected vice chairman in 2009 and as chairman in 2010.

Current Thame Town Mayor, Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, said: “Mike was intelligent, exuberant but above all a charming man. He was steadfast in his determination to attend council meetings no matter how poorly he felt. A role model councillor.”

Cllr Mike Dyer, and a friend of Cllr Welply, said: “Larger than life with his military bearing and booming voice, he had no airs or graces, wore a permanent smile, and put everyone at their ease.

“His energy and enthusiasm were boundless, his love of life infectious, and he earned the respect of all who had the privilege to know him.

“Mike saw the best in people and always encouraged their endeavours. A true gent, he will be sadly missed as both a colleague and a friend.”