The son of a man who received a French honour for military personnel has paid tribute to his “remarkable” father.

John Paradine’s father Ken spent the latter part of his life in Little Marlow and died last month aged 92.

He was made a Chevalier in the French Ordre nationale de la Legion d’honneur last October, which is given to those with a minimum of 20 years of public service or 25 years of professional activity with “eminent merits”, for his work as a World War II veteran.

Ken was born in Ealing in March 1925 and had an older brother Sonny and a younger sister Barbara. He left school at the age of 14 and worked for G.E.C. North Wembley, attending night school to further his studies.

John said his dad enjoyed playing tennis with his family at the local tennis club and was also a scout along with his brother.

In early 1943, he volunteered to join the WWII effort. After joining the Royal Navy and reporting to HMS Glendower in North Wales, Ken discovered that the training ‘ship’ turned out to be a Butlin’s holiday camp converted for wartime training.

He moved on to Chatham to finish training before joining his first ship in Glasgow as gunner.

In August 1944, his ship was involved in Operation Dragoon, which was the code name for the invasion of Provence, which lead to the timely liberation of the south of France.

Following the war, Ken served in the merchant navy for a few years before joining an engineering company in Uxbridge in 1949.

He met his first wife, Janet, around this time, with whom he had three children – Tom, Jane and John – and moved to Cookham in the mid-1950s.

Ken and Janet went their separate ways in the early 80s and he met partner Pat shortly after, who he married in 1985 and moved to Little Marlow.

John said his father was a keen golf player and regularly played at Bisham Abbey, as well as an avid gardener and wine-maker.

He sadly lost his oldest son Tom in 2011 but then celebrated the arrival of his great grandchild, Tom, just four months later.

John said: “Dad and Pat and the family have enjoyed many holidays and Christmases together at home and abroad.

“He celebrated his 90th birthday with a round of golf and a party organised by his friends at Bisham Abbey, followed at the weekend by a family party in Caversham.

“Dad clearly had a very full and interesting life but most of all treasured time spent with his ever expanding family.

“He took a keen and excited interest in the arrival and news of his grandchildren, great grandchildren, grand nephews and nieces.

“I can think of so many words appropriate to dad – they would include loving, honest, loyal, strong, passionate, kind, fair, modest and determined.

“There are no words to describe how much we will miss him.”