CRANBROOK'S oldest citizen, 102-year-old Tommy East, has died at the Hartley House nursing home in the town.

Mr East had been featured in several national newspapers as being one of only 43 British servicemen to have served in the First World War still surviving.

He just caught the end of the conflict, having been called up in July 1918. He served in the Middlesex Regiment before transferring to the Royal Engineers, where he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

The war ended before he reached France, but he was sent to Germany as part of the Allied occupation forces after the Armistice. He returned to England he became a bus conductor for M&D, and married his wife Lillian in 1927. The couple had one daughter Margaret.

She was at Mr East's bedside on the day of his death last Thursday, along with her husband Arthur Osborne, and Mr East's grand-daughter, Coral Kirkcaldie.

Mrs Kirkcaldie, who is the town's parish clerk, said of her grandfather: "He was such a lovely old boy. He was very popular. Everyone liked him." She said that despite her grandfather's age, his death had still come as a shock to the family.

Mr East was a great sports fan and a lifelong supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. He also enjoyed horseracing.

Mr East is also survived by his other grand-daughter, Sharon Yardley, and by three great-grandchildren, Duncan, 27, Joelene, 23, and Neville, 22. His wife died in 1960.

A funeral service will be held at Charing Crematorium at 2.40pm on Monday, January 6.

All are welcome. Family flowers only, otherwise donations to Cancer UK, via Perigoe Funeral Directors on 01580 713636.