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Fred Farley

Fred Farley, who has died aged 93, won the Military Medal for an act of bravery during the Second World War.

He was serving with British troops in North Africa when his detachment came under attack from German bombers.

As they returned fire, ammunition in their Bofors gun jammed, forcing them to dive for cover. Mr Farley, the sergeant in charge of the unit, ran to the gun, removed the jammed ammunition and got the weapon back in action.

He was later praised for his gallantry, determination and devotion to duty.

Hugo Brunner, Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, said: "Fred claimed he survived his wartime service by being small enough that enemy bullets passed over his head."

After the war, Mr Farley was a supporter of the Royal British Legion, serving as president of the county and city branches.

He read the Exhortation at the Remembrance Service in St Giles, Oxford, for 27 years, and regularly led a party of Legion representatives to Leiden, Oxford's twin city in Holland, to take part in the Dutch Remembrance ceremony.

He worked tirelessly for the Poppy Appeal, and received many Legion awards, including the prized Gold Badge.

He was also president of the Central Conservative Club in Oxford.

Mr Farley was born in Woodstock.

In the early 1950s, he set up his own painting and decorating business.

He was a keen cyclist with the Oxford City Road Club and in 1937, cycled on a tandem from Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon in a record 3hr 13min 29sec.

He met his wife Helen while they were both working at Blenheim Palace. They married in 1939 and lived in Evans Lane, Kidlington.

Mr Farley also leaves a daughter, Gill, grand-daughter Teresa and great-grandchildren Ben and Josh.

His funeral is at Oxford Crematorium on Wednesday, April 23, at 10.30am.

8:30pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

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