TRIBUTES have been paid to a Denbigh war evacuee who has died aged 86.

John McCabe, originally from Liverpool, moved to Denbigh aged five at the start of the Second World War as part of the evacuation process. After serving in the military and as a railway mechanic, he joined the shop floor at Pilkington’s glass factory and rose to inspector before his retirement aged 56.

Mr McCabe suffered an aneurysm on New Year’s Day and was taken to hospital to receive life support, however he died a few days later.

Only daughter Louise McCabe-Allen, 47, described him as “an old-time gentleman” who was “always willing to help people”.

“If you speak to anybody they will say he was never seen without a shirt and tie,” she said.

The mum-of-two added: “Dad was the head of the family for his seven siblings, having lost their own dad to cancer at an early age, and he is idolised by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

Mr McCabe was initially evacuated to an orphan’s home in Aberystwyth with his older sister Eileen, however they ran away to the local authority due to being mistreated. The pair were then relocated to a family home in Denbigh where they enjoyed a happy childhood.

Mr McCabe attended Denbigh High School but left without any qualifications, joining the army on national service. It was there that a sergeant major discovered could not read or write and made him spend weekends in the classroom. Mr McCabe would complete a list of qualifications upon leaving the army aged 21.

He then worked on trains at Denbigh railway station and at the dairy farm in Bodfari until his late 20s, when he joined Pilkington glass factory in St Asaph. He started on the shop floor and after many years became the factory inspector, as well as chairman of its fishing and darts teams. Meanwhile he visited Germany on military projects and led the team that designed the glass for the Sellafield nuclear reactor, which now stores about 80 per cent of the UK’s nuclear waste.

During that time Mr McCabe met his wife Brenda, who also worked at Pilkington, and they moved to Prince Edward Avenue in Rhyl where they raised Louise. Mr McCabe would take his daughter on frequent fishing trips to Colwyn Bay and Llandudno.

He retired in his early 50s and enjoyed snooker and Saturday bingo at the Plas Pigot pub in Denbigh. He also visited his granddaughter’s classes at Myddelton College for talks about his young experience of the war, which featured his gas mask.

Family and friends took to Mrs McCabe-Allen’s Facebook page to express their sadness over her dad’s death.

One commenter said Mr McCabe was a “wonderful man” and they have “many fond memories of him”.

Another said: “He was a true gent and lovely man”.

A third said: “He was such a kind and caring man whose great love for [his daughter and grand-daughters] was always evident”.

The funeral is set to take place at St Ann’s Church, on Vale Road, Rhyl at 1pm on January 24.

All are welcome to attend.