Mr Manning, who was 85, died at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, on April 5.

Born and educated in Soham, Mr Manning obtained a scholarship at 14 to join an engineering course at Cambridgeshire Technical School.

His first job was at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge where he worked until October 1940 when he left to join the post office engineering department.

He was called up to the Royal Navy in December 1943 as a junior electrical mechanic and did a year's training at HMS Vernon before receiving his first draft to HMS Cleopatra, a light cruiser.

He was then drafted to HMS Phoebe where he was responsible for the maintenance of the navigation equipment.

When the Japanese campaign ended, Mr Manning was drafted to Naval Headquarters in Colombo where he maintained communication equipment until he obtained a passage back to England on the Indomitable in August 1946.

He returned to employment with the post office engineering department at RAF Group Headquarters, first at Harraton House, Exning, and then RAF Mildenhall. He served there for seven years until 1955 when he was posted as clerk of the works for the installation of the RAF Communication Centre, Newmarket.

After 12 months, he took over the maintenance of the communication centre as technical officer in charge. He obtained a commendation from the Air Ministry for his work in organising and executing the changeover of the various telegraph systems.

After seven years with the post office, Mr Manning was promoted to assistant executive engineer at Newmarket. He was responsible for the maintenance of all the telephone communications in an area from Methwold in Norfolk to Ridgewell in Essex, including both USAF airfields at Mildenhall and Lakenheath.

In 1971/72, he was seconded to plan and organise all the public telephone kiosks in the Cambridge area for decimalisation.

Mr Manning retired in 1983 and, together with his wife, Maudie, became a founder member of a newly-formed branch of the Royal Naval Association at Chippenham. When the branch folded, the couple joined the Soham branch in 1985/6.

Mr Manning held the post of secretary and later as secretary and treasurer from 1983 to 1993.

In the late 1960s, he was also a successful candidate in the local parish council elections and became chairman in 1972.

He was an active member of the Royal British Legion and a member of the Burma Star Association.

He also served St Andrew's Church for more than 30 years as a sidesman with his wife, as well as playing an active part supporting her with the start of the Soham Pumpkin Fair.

Mr Manning is survived by his wife, with whom he celebrated 60 years of marriage in January this year, and leaves a daughter, Dianne, and two grandsons, Alex and Peter.

The funeral service was conducted by the Rev Tim Alban Jones, who was assisted by Canon Michael Shears and the Rev Edward Green. Peter Scott was the organist.

The standard bearers were from the Soham and Ely branches of the Royal British Legion, the Soham and District branch of the Royal Naval Association and the Burma Star Association.

Members of the Royal Naval Association and the Royal British Legion formed a guard of honour outside the church.

Family mourners were: Maudie Manning (widow), Dianne and Stan Scott, Alex and Peter Scott, Nakita Benton, John Manning, Mr and Mrs John O'Dell (rep Mark and Tim), Mr and Mrs David Long, Mr and Mrs Roy Harlow, Mr and Mrs Robert Blythe, Betty Howe, Charlie Brooks. Mr and Mrs Brian Leonard were unable to attend and were represented by family members.

Among the other mourners were: Lynne Webb, Mr and Mrs Andrew Fletcher (Soham Pumpkin Fair), Greg Harlow, Joanne Denny, Mrs J Leonard (Keith), Mrs Pollard, Chris King, Mr and Mrs Dace, Vera and Len Lawrence, Mr and Mrs Trevor Bonnett, Basil Trott (Cambridge RNA), Bernie Groom, Joanne and Simon Clayton, Mr and Mrs B Cocksedge, Peggy Watts, Violet Male, Vera Marsh (Roger), Linda and Michelle Webster (John), Mrs B Smalley (Colin and Louise), Angela and Tony Bocking, John Scott (ex-BT colleagues), Doreen Burgess (Chris), Lilian Everitt, Jim Perry, Paula Cousins, Mr Palmer (RBL), Mr and Mrs Ron Everitt (Mrs B Plumb), Peter Cundall, Tony Turner, Mike Higson, John Seaman, Alan Botright, Mr and Mrs Patrick Clark, Mr M Howe (Mrs Howe and Soham Town Rangers), Ronald Drewery (Philip Drewery), T Strawson (City of Ely RNA), M Nicholas, Mr Gammon (family and RNA), Peter Coleman, Colin Elsden, Jim Carter,Pam Harris (RNA and RBL), Liz Plumb, Hilda Sheldrake, Marie Brown (Tony, Reginald and Anita Brown), Mr and Mrs J Payne, Mrs R Hills (Brian and Susan Manning), Mr W Bailey (RNA and Audrey and Jane Mallett), Brian and Elle Holden, Mr Wright, Mr A Lilley (Burma Star), Mr Ginn, Mrs S Knight, Gwen Bridgeman, Mrs B Reeve (Bob), Mrs Coleman, Mrs Bedford, Mrs P Leonard, Mary Ames, Ellen Webb, Mr M Beham, Mrs Lanigan (RBL), Mr and Mrs Johnson, Chris and Hazel Read, Mr and Mrs Ames, Mr and Mrs T Harvey (Mr and Mrs Hartley Hawes), Neal Cross, Mr A Wilson, Mr B Gray (Soham Town Rangers Football Club), Ron Maltby, Mrs J Hobbs, Mr and Mrs Pearce, Mr J Andrew, Mr and Mrs J Kent, Mr and Mrs Coleman, Mr and Mrs Ken Chapman, Rob Imhof, Mrs Pollard, Mrs A Evans, Chris Palmer (Linda, and Soham Town Council), Mrs S Johnson (Jim), Mrs J White, Lynn Williams (Soham Pumpkin Fair), Mr and Mrs G Fisher, Mrs M Hardingham, Mrs D Turner, Mary Rae (RBL), Mr Shelbourne, Mr and Mrs George, Edward Hobbs (Jill), Frank and Bev Eagles, Mr and Mrs Craft, Mr and Mrs Sheldrick, Harry Drage, David Cullum (CRMA), Mr and Mrs Hooper, Mrs Barber (Mr G Barber), Liz Clark (Keith), Gillian Gray (Walter), Jenny Matthews, Barry Peachey (Marie and Philip Coe), Mr and Mrs S J Harvey, Jean Carter, Monica Wright (Roy), Mr and Mrs Sykes, Mr P Webster (Brian Webster), Mr and Mrs Pallet (Mr and Mrs Wright), Mrs Stark, Leonard Langdon, Mr B Chalkins (Mrs S Chalkins and Len Clark), Barbara Wiseman, Carol Green, Mrs Turner (John), Jack and Sheila Hoxley (Peter Hoxley and Geoff Fordham), Leon Gordon and among those representing the RNA were: Tony Pollard, Mr R Wilson, Mr C Constable, Mr A Glover, Mr Coleman and Mr A Burling. Sid and Betty Berry were unable to attend and were represented by friends.