'Inspirational' officer served with honour; PROUD: Tributes to army Major who served the army for almost 50 years.

Byline: Mary Griffin

A GLOBE-TROTTING of- ficer who racked up nearly 50 years in the British Army has died, aged 87.

Warwickshire's Major Ron Page MBE had a long and extraordinary career, serving in some of the most pivotal battles of the Second World Wa r.

He served from 1937 to 1985 and in the seventies he was awarded an MBE for services to the armed forces.

Major Peter Rhodes, a former officer with 67 Signal Squadron (The Queen's Own Warwickshire & Worcestershire Yeomanry) said: "He was a wonderful officer, an inspiration and a Gunner through and through.

"He had a remarkable career. The 67 Signal Squadron meant a lot to him and he meant a great deal to us." Born in 1922, Page launched his career at the tender age of 15 as a boy trumpeter with the Royal Artillery.

He went on to serve with the legendary Eighth Army in the North African campaign, taking part in the Anzio landings and the Battle of Monte Cassino.

By the end of the war in 1945 he was in northern Greece where he married his first wife Lila.

The following years took him to Kenya, East Africa and the Suez Canal zone in Egypt before he became Regimental Sergeant-Major with the British Army's oldest regiment, the Honourable Artillery Company in London. After the death of his first wife he met and married Peggy Anne Tyler, a BBC classical singer.

Major Page settled in Leek Wooton in 1977 and became Permanent Staff Officer in charge of administration at 67 (The Queen's Own Warwickshire & Worcestershire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron which is based in New Broad Street, Stratford.

After retiring in 1983 he worked part-time as a National Trust guide at Charlecote Park.

Major Page, who died in Warwick Hospital on Thursday, leaves two daughters, Kathleen and Anne Marie, and two grandchildren.

The funeral is to be held at St Francis of Assisi RC church Kenilworth on Wednesday, June 3 at 11am..

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SERVICE... Major Ron Page who fought at the battle of Monte Cassino