THE last surviving member of bomber coastal command has died in Stourbridge at the age 0f 91.

Eric John Lewis was part of the aircrew which sank the last but one German U-boat before World War Two came to an end.

He spent the last 40 years living in Stourton Crescent and was an extremely well known figure in the area.

Mr Lewis was set to embark on a career in civil engineering when World War Two broke out and he joined the RAF instead, where he was in charge of air crew signals, rising to the rank of senior warrant officer.

His brother Arthur revealed: “At the end of the war, Eric fancied going into civil aviation. But at the interview, he was told to forget everything he’d learnt in coastal command and that he would have to go back to square one.

“It was always a bit of a joke with him, considering all the action and danger he’d gone through during the war!

Instead he reverted back to civil engineering and joined Smethwick based firm Bedford Sand and Gravel.

Arthur recalls: “He was in Enville one day when he saw a rabbit digging. He noticed the quality of sand coming out and it was through his initiative that a number of sand quarries developed in Enville”.

Mr Lewis later joined A J Mucklows in Halesowen and then Stourbridge building company George Thomas, where he became their managing director. He was also chairman of the Master Builders Association.

Away from work, Eric Lewis was a passionate golfer and long time member of Enville Golf Club.

He also loved gardening and was a staunch supporter of Dudley Round Table.

His funeral took place in Stourbridge this week, while a memorial service will take place at Wollaston Free Church on May 12th.