Charles Baylis has died after a long illness.

Born in 1919, Mr Baylis joined the timber trade on leaving school, working for Price Walker & Co Ltd as a tallyman at Sharpness Docks in the days of loose cargo.

During the war he joined the Royal Gloucester Hussars and served in the North African Desert Campaign.

He returned to work with Price Walker, moving to Birmingham with the company in 1955. He later moved to Burt Boulton and ultimately to Montague L Meyer until his retirement in 1986.

However, Mr Baylis found he could not give up the trade he loved: he went back to work with May & Hassel in West Bromwich, until he finally hung up his order book in 1991.

He was greatly respected for his knowledge and honesty. He had a great sense of humour and always had time to pass on his knowledge and recount tales of his life.

Mr Baylis is survived by his wife Jean and three children, Lawrence, Lorna and Lynne, and two grandchildren, Natasha and Ross.