A FORMER Redditch site manager who was one of the last World War II paratrooper veterans, has passed away, aged 95.

George Jones, from Tipton, became a skilled carpenter after the war before joining Bovis Homes, as a finishing foreman – preferring outdoor work to being in an office. He worked alongside his sons at the housebuilder, staying with the company until he retired in 1992.

George, who boxed for Tipton, progressed up to site manager and covered developments in Kidderminster, Solihull, Bridgnorth and Redditch where he worked with his sons Steve and Trevor, both maintenance operatives.

Steve, who worked for Bovis Homes for ten years, said: “My dad admired the people he worked with and also the management side of his work when he progressed to that point in his career.

“He also appreciated being able to work with Trevor and I and we always had a good time while we worked.

“When my dad was a youngster he worked in an office as a clerk and he didn’t like it – he wanted to work outside and as part of a team and that’s what he did.

“It was the camaraderie at Bovis Homes that made it fun, there were great people who worked very hard.

“I worked there for ten years and Trevor did until he retired, we were all employed by the company for a long time.”

George retired and then re-joined the housebuilder to work for another two years after being asked by his area build manager.

His wife of 73 years, Bessie, also 95 said: “When George joined the veteran regiment there were a lot of people who received a wheelbarrow from him!

“We had great times together, the Bovis Homes work dos were a real highlight and we had some wonderful holidays – I treasure them all, he was a great man.”

Bessie’s brother was also in the 1st Airborne Division and that’s what led to her introduction to George, who was in the 3rd battalion anti-tank parachute regiment.

The pair were married on May 22, 1948.

George also leaves behind his three grandchildren Christopher, Ryan and Robbie, and two great grandchildren, Freya and Jimmy.