ONE of the country's most famous political cartoonists, who spent much of his career living in Bucks, has died.

David Langdon OBE, a former committee member of Wycombe Wanderers, passed away on Friday after a period of illness. He was 97.

He began his career as a cartoonist in the 1930s and continued to contribute to the likes of the Sunday Mirror and Punch up until the 1990s.

He became well known as one of the country's best cartoonists and was awarded the OBE in recognition of this in 1988.

Daughter Beth Whittaker said: "My father enjoyed a very long and creative life, remaining fit and active well into his mid-90s and died peacefully in his sleep. We all miss him very much.

"He was a devoted supporter of Wycombe Wanderers. It was there that he met Arthur Church, former editor of the Bucks Free Press, who became a good friend. Watching the Blues and playing golf at Harewood Downs were my father's way of relaxing at the end of a week thinking up new and original ideas for cartoons for Punch and the Sunday Mirror, for the New Yorker and for national advertising campaigns.

"He worked from home - over the years, our family lived in Radnage, Widmer End, Little Chalfont, Chalfont St Giles, Tring, Prestwood and finally in Amersham - travelling up to London three days a week to show his rough drawings to the editors, then re-drawing the ones selected for publication, ready for inclusion in the following week's editions. He was still contributing occasional cartoons to The Spectator until relatively recently."

Mr Langdon was also a familiar face at Wanderers, where he contributed drawings for Christmas cards. He was a life member and served on the committee.

Club chairman Ivor Beeks said: "David was a great supporter of the club for a number of years and he'll be sorely missed.

"The cartoons and Christmas cards he produced for us were truly excellent and I'm sure they will be treasured by many people.

"The thoughts of everyone associated with Wycombe Wanderers are with David's family at this time."

Mr Langdon, who lived in Chesham Road, Amersham, is survived by April, his wife of 56 years and a former JP in Amersham, his three children Beth, Ben and Miles, and eight grandchildren.

His funeral will be held at the Chilterns Crematorium at 12.15pm on Thursday December 1.