TRIBUTES have been paid to a grandfather who helped hundreds of young cadets in Denbighshire and was awarded by the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd for his service.

Maurice Linaker, a training supervisor and stand-in minibus driver for St Brigid’s School’s Combined Cadet Force since 2010, died at the age of 78 on Sunday.

Mr Linaker, who joined the Merchant Navy in 1953, served during the Borneo campaign and upon his return worked as an electrical engineer for Vauxhall Motors and British Steel.

This was followed by 34 years as a hospital equipment technician and he later joined the Marine Society and Sea Cadet Corps, becoming a sea-going watch leader on the training ship TS Royalist.

In the spare time he had left, he was also an assistant scout leader with St Asaph cubs and started his long association as steward at St Asaph Cathedral.

Replying to an advert in the local paper, at the age of 70, Maurice volunteered to help St Brigid’s School Combined Cadet Force, providing supervised training and delivering lessons, as well as attending most training activities away from school.

A spokesman for St Brigid’s School said: “Maurice was a true friend of the school.

“His contribution to the work of the CCF and to the life of the school in general was valued and appreciated.

“He was a considerable help and and a part of everything that we did. He supervised training, delivered lessons, was a qualified First Aider and worked in the contingent office every week.

“Maurice attended most training activities away from school, usually as a minibus driver. He also helped tree-planting and supervised cadets at Royal British Legion poppy activities.”

They said his commitment to the school alone warranted his nomination in 2016 for the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd’s Certificate of Merit.

“Most recently, the latest chapter of his life saw Maurice looking after his grandchildren on a regular basis, and this gave him great pleasure,” they added.

“He will be missed by the whole school community.”