A courageous Second World War pilot and the president of Watford and Kings Langely's Langleybury Cricket Club for the past 17 years has died aged 94.

Norman Harold Chase, who has been president of the club since 1998, died on Saturday, July 4, following a period of ill health.

Mr Chase, who had played rugby for Watford Grammar School for Boys before the Second World War, trained as a light aircraft pilot when the fighting started and attained the rank of major.

He fought in Italy at Anzio and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross citation which says that he has "the greatest efficiency and cool courage".

On three occasions he flew over enemy lines subject to heavy fire from the ground and the citation further states that he "showed continued courage over a long period and a very great devotion to duty".

It is believed he was eventually shot down accidentally by his own forces.

He married in 1943 and after the war became a qualified accountant and worked as a company secretary for a number of companies.

Watford Observer:

He became involved in Langleybury Cricket Club in the 1970s and was a vice president before becoming president of the club in 1998.

Although not an actual cricketer as such, he was a great and generous supporter and patron of the club, which resulted in the pavilion being named after him.

He was very proud when the club played at Lords in 1996 in the final of The Village Cup and often bought jugs of beer for Langleybury teams, hardly missing a weekend during the summer.

Due to ill health he was unable to visit the club much recently but did visit twice this current season from the Care Home where he was staying.

His funeral will be at Garston Crematorium on the Tuesday, July 14, at 1.20pm and afterwards at Langleybury Cricket Club.