TRIBUTES have been paid to a former RAF airman who served as chief fire officer at Bridgwater’s British Cellophane factory.

Harry Jacobson, who died on Friday (July 13) aged 90, served at the factory in the 1970s and 80s, and also worked as a fire safety advisor with British Rail.

He leaves Minnie, his wife of 64 years, sons Harold, David and Christopher, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mr and Mrs Jacobson had a fourth son, Graham, who died five years ago aged 53.

Harold, manager of the Hill House Christian Centre in Sedgemoor, said: “My father served during the war in the RAF in Aden and in the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Belgium during the major push in 1944 to the Ardennes.

“He left after the war, and joined Liverpool City Police and then the fire service. He served in the 1960s as fire chief at the Ford Motor Company in Halewood, then relocated to Somerset as the fire chief of British Cellophane.

“He and Minnie also ran a B&B in Bridgwater at Newbury House and took in families attending the British Institute of Brain Injured Children, and made many friends, many of whom still write to this day from all over Europe.

“He attended many RAF reunions in Belgium, including meeting with famous Luftwaffe pilots, and gave speeches at the dinners.

“He’d been ill the past six months, but battled on and was a well-respected member of the community.

“In his days of good health he attended worship at St George’s, Wembdon, and the URC Church in West Street.”