The funeral of Ivor Roy Dixon, 79, was conducted by the Rev Thomas Woodhouse at St Bartholomew's Church, Wootton Bassett. Mr Dixon was an accomplished artist, and mourners included many of his former fellow members of Wootton Bassett & District Art Society.

Mr Dixon died a month before his 80th birthday, and the vicar paid tribute to the determination with which he overcame numerous setbacks and illnesses.

Roy, as he was known, was the second of his parents' three sons, and was born at Elcombe, Wroughton. At the age of eight, he was knocked down by a car and suffered two broken hips and a fractured skull.

On leaving school he went to work as an agricultural contractor - a job which reflected his love of the land. Sadly, ill health prevented Mr Dixon from pursuing his chosen agricultural career, and he became a painter and decorator instead.

He was a keen gardener, and for some years supplied vegetables to Wootton Bassett's former WI market. Mr Dixon never lost his fondness for rural life, and enjoyed holidays on Exmoor, and country walks from his home at Victory Row, where he and his wife Joan settled after their marriage in 1952.

Mr Dixon coped with various health problems, including two strokes, heart bypass surgery, a pacemaker, heart valve replacement and a leg amputation last year.

Tribute was paid to the excellent medical care which Mr Dixon received locally, and donations in his memory may be sent to New Court Surgery, Borough Fields, Wootton Bassett SN4 7AX.