TRIBUTES have been paid to Huntingdon s macebearer, Arthur Adams, who died of cancer last Wednesday. Mr Adams, a practical man who could both drive tanks and bake cakes, had been mace-bearer for 12 years. He stepped down in the autumn because of his illne

TRIBUTES have been paid to Huntingdon's macebearer, Arthur Adams, who died of cancer last Wednesday.

Mr Adams, a practical man who could both drive tanks and bake cakes, had been mace-bearer for 12 years. He stepped down in the autumn because of his illness.

The Mayor of Huntingdon, Councillor Jeff Dutton, said: "Arthur was a larger than life figure in Huntingdon's civic processions for more than a decade. He was part of the civic fabric of Huntingdon and he will be very, very sadly missed."

Mr Adams, a retired factory foreman, who had worked for Victaulics, had been married twice. His first wife Ethel, who moved with him to Huntingdon from London in 1961, died in 1990. He married his second wife, Josie, also a widow, in 1995.

Mr Adams did his National Service from 1948 to 1950 in Palestine, where he drove tanks in the 4th Tank Regiment. He travelled all over the Middle East and twice escorted British troops out of Jerusalem. He loved bread pudding and his mother used to regularly ship two big trays out to him. He also enjoyed baking all his life.

Josie Adams told The Hunts Post: "Everything was special about him and everybody thought the world of him, I have had so many letters and cards. My family are so overcome, it was so sudden."

His son, Stephen said: "He was always a great dad and a very practical guy." His daughter Sue added: "You could always depend on him, and he always had the answers and he was mostly right. He always did the right thing."

Mrs Adams said her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer on her birthday, November 20. Despite having chemotherapy, the cancer spread and he was taken from his home in Huntingdon to Hinchingbrooke Hospital last Wednesday where he died at 5pm.

Mr Adams also leaves behind stepchildren, David, Sandra, Janet and Paul and grandchildren Alex and Matthew, and stepgrandchildren, Matthew Samantha, Andrew, Robert and Alex.

n Arthur Adams' funeral is at St Mary's Church, Godmanchester on Tuesday, January 30 at 2pm. Family flowers only, donations to Macmillan Cancer Care.