MAURICE Wigley, who was a warrant officer with the RAF for 31 years, football referee and past member Huntingdonshire District Council and Brampton Parish Council, died suddenly aged 78. Mr Wigley, who lived in Brampton, suffered a stroke at his home on

MAURICE Wigley, who was a warrant officer with the RAF for 31 years, football referee and past member Huntingdonshire District Council and Brampton Parish Council, died suddenly aged 78.

Mr Wigley, who lived in Brampton, suffered a stroke at his home on Monday, April 27, and died in Addenbrooke's Hospital the following day.

His funeral was held at St Mary Magdalene Church in Brampton on May 8.

Mr Wigley was a founder member of Brampton Neighbourhood Watch and a member of the charity Probus, the Royal British Legion and the Royal Society of St George.

His wife Maureen said: "He was very interested in people. He was never happier than when he was helping people. He lived a full and happy life."

Mrs Wigley said among the highlights in her husband's life was a day with Sir John and Dame Norma Major at 10 Downing Street.

Mr Wigley was born Thomas Maurice on June 26, 1930 in Everden, Northamptonshire and went to school in Kettering. He joined the RAF aged 17 in January 1948.

At 19 he was posted to Suez where he served for two years and learned Arabic. Fifty years later, along with his comrades, he received the Suez Medal.

From 1954 to 1964, he was a sergeant and the personal driver to Air Marshal, Sir Richard Jordan at RAF Andover.

Mrs Wigley said: "Maurice loved to tell how he drove through the gates of Buckingham Palace with Sir Richard."

During this time, Maurice qualified as a football referee and officiated at games at what are now Premiere League grounds.

He and Maureen met at RAF Brampton in 1972 where they were both stationed. They married in December at Warboys Parish Church two months after they met.

He served eight years on HDC and 10 years on Brampton Parish Council.