A DUNKIRK veteran who lived life on the edge has died aged 102.

Sidney Spalding was a famous face among veterans for his escape off the beaches and his risky work as an electrician in the Second World War.

He was born and bred in Colchester. He attended North Primary School and spent all of his retirement living in Greenstead.

He was married to Minnie, who he first met while he was out walking.

The couple took to each other and married in 1939 at St Botolph’s Church in Colchester, just before war broke out.

Braintree and Witham Times:

The next day Sidney, who was 23 at the time and had worked as a projectionist at the Empire Cinema, was posted with the Territorial Army and for the next seven years would travel to countries including France, Egypt and Germany.

His son Clive, 61, told of Sid’s time in Dunkirk and how he narrowly escaped.

He said: “My dad was given the order ‘Every man for himself’ so he had to get himself off the beach.

“It was just by chance he went down to the pier after dark and was spotted by a small boat which took him out to a larger one.

“After Dunkirk, he was sent to the Middle East and then to Russia where he was attached to a tank regiment as an electrician.

“I remember him telling me about having to remove a vehicle from a minefield.”

Sid was a champion boxer in the Army and was given a special pair of genuine Thirties boxing gloves for his 100th birthday.

Director Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk film was released the same year Sid turned 100.

As a Dunkirk veteran Sid was invited to the film premiere and met Prince Harry before being snapped by photographers on the red carpet.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Clive said: “The whole thing was organised by Warner Bros. They went to Kensington Palace first for a tea and a chat.

“He loved it, it was a great day for him. He said most of the action from the film was accurate.

“He told me while he was on the beach the Luftwaffe dropped a bomb straight down the funnel of the hospital ship, which was actually featured in the film. He had witnessed that happening.”

Sid and Minnie had two children, Linda, 64, and Clive.

After the war he found work with a car electrics firm and eventually set up his own business, Pownall Auto Electrical Company, based at North Station, which he ran for 20 years.

After this he worked for 6 Command workshop fixing the military’s vehicles until he was 65.

He had several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Clive said: “He was very happy, he was a bit of an arm and leg puller.

“He was a generous man and was methodical in his ways, he considered everything.”

Sid died peacefully at home on May 14.

His funeral will take place on June 5 at 11am, at Colchester Crematorium.

He asked for donations to go to St Helena Hospice.