ONLY a few months from his 104th birthday, Jack Gardiner, the oldest man in Crediton and surely one of the oldest computer "buffs" anywhere, has died at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter.

Until four years ago, when he took over a "granddad flat" at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, June and Clive Jones, Jack had lived on his own after the death of his wife, Harriet.

Jack was born in Uxbridge, Middlesex, on June 19, 1906. At the age of 14, he started work with London Transport as a messenger boy, soon moving to his real life's work at HMV at Hayes, Middlesex, as an apprentice machinist, becoming highly skilled in the use of most hand and machine tools.

He met Harriet on a visit to East Ilsley in Berkshire and married her in 1930. By then her family had moved to Middlesex and they worked together in the family business.

Their children, Jack and June, were born in the next few and Jack later took his engineering skills to Simmonds Aeroaccessories, makers of aircraft parts.

When World War Two threatened the factory in the Great West Road, Jack moved with it to Paulton near Bristol and was manager for the duration of the war. He declined an offer at the end of the war to set up a new factory in Wales and returned to Hayes, to be near both his and his wife's families.

That was a time when work was hard to find, but after doing a number of different jobs, on including a time in planning at Morphy Richards, Jack eventually settled at the Bell Punch Company in Uxbridge as planning engineer, retiring at 65. His career could well be described as very varied.

He and Harriet moved to Devon in 1975 to be near their children and grandchildren in Crediton and Bude. During the ensuing years, nine great grandchildren were added to their growing family, a time marred only by Harriet suffering a stroke in 1981, which necessitated Jack having to look after her almost single-handed for the next 16 years.

Harriet died in 1997. They had been married for 67 years and Jack was now on his own. Prior to suffering a stroke at this time, he had never spent a single night in a hospital during his entire life.

Bouncing back in as little as four weeks, Jack finally moved into his purpose built "granddad flat" with his daughter and son-in-law at Crediton, where he had lived ever since.

Not long after he and Harriet moved to Crediton, Jack began getting involved. He was that sort of person, someone who would offer help and had energy and expertise to give.

He helped Clive deliver gas supplies to the Scouts' World Jamboree at Lords Meadow in 1980, working flat out right through the 10 days.

With Harriet, Jack helped Dr Christopher Maycock and the late Mrs Mary Blamey set up Trevella, the forerunner of Age Concern (Crediton) more than 25 years ago, with its regular lunch club.

This moved to Stanbury Court and Jack was on the organising committee until after his 100th birthday. He was its oldest member.

Jack had been given a computer when he was in his 90s and was actively using this up to three months before he died.

He used to play indoor bowls with the Over 50's group at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre until he was in his late 90s, and enjoyed watching most sports on television.

Jack was always cheerful and ready to help anyone at the drop of a hat. He ws capable of turning his hands to anything requiring the use of hands and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Those with whom he came in contact found him a pleasant and caring individual. He was one of Nature's gentlemen and he will be sorely missed.

The funeral service for John (Jack) Aubrey Gardiner is to be held at 2.30pm on Tuesday next, February 9 at the Exeter and Devon Crematorium. Donations may be made for Age Concern (Crediton) through A White and Sons, Albert, Road, Crediton.

Sue Read