TRIBUTES have been paid to the RAF pilot who landed in Cumbria.

Sydney Ronald James, known to friends and family as Jimmie sadly passed away in the earlier hours of yesterday morning.

It was in 1943, in the middle of World War Two, that Jimmie, as a young pilot, took part in a formation fly-past over Shropshire.

This is just one of the many reasons Jimmie will be remembered in Wigton.

Over the course of his 98 years he was an RAF pilot, deputy headmaster of Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton and a long-serving district and town councillor as well as a member of the rotary club - and never forgot any of it.

Sandra Hodson, who is a town councillor for Wigton will remember Jimmie most for the “twinkle in his eye” when recalling stories.

She explained: “I knew him through various roles. He was a teacher at the school and working with him through the Wigton computer and heritage museum.

“We managed to find equipment he used during the war like the Morse code machines. I remember attending a rotary club dinner and it only took Jimmie a couple of seconds to get back into working it.

“It was amazing to watch him and see his eyes come alive.”

Jimmie loved to recall his memories - something he will be remembered for.

“He just wanted to share with people what he had done,” continued Sandra.

“He was absolutely amazing and I will miss the twinkle in his eye and his sense of humour.”

Wigton Rotary Club shared the news of Jimmie’s death yesterday afternoon on Facebook.

Jimmie had been an active member of the rotary club since February 1973, attending weekly meetings.

Len Baseley, a member of Wigton rotary club paid tribute to Jimmie.

He said: "He was an absolute gentleman. He used to terrorise the children at school but once they got into sixth form he would treat them like adults.

"Jimmie was a lovely guy. No one ever had a bad word to say about him.

"He was always concerned for others and a proper gentleman."

When he was an infant the family moved to Madagascar where his father worked as a missionary.

He was then sent to Britain as a boarder at Eltham College in south London, a school specifically for the sons of missionaries. His mother and other siblings also came back to England in 1939 - but when World War Two began, his father was trapped in Madagascar.

Alan Pitcher, Allerdale councillor, added: “Jimmie was a legend in Wigton, nearly everyone knew him, respected and loved him.

“He was always kind and polite when I was a councillor particularly on Remembrance Day when he was doing his ‘bit’.

“I think he’ll always be remembered as a true officer and gentleman.”