TRIBUTES are being paid to a Newport man who worked for more than 40 years at the city's Whitehead steelworks.

Fred Jukes, 85, died on June 29 at his daughter's home in Nailsea, Bristol, following a short illness.

Mr Jukes was born in Tredegar and was the youngest of six brothers.

The family moved to Newport when he was four-years-old.

Mr Jukes and his brothers followed in the footsteps of their father Jack who worked there for 50 years.

The family lived in the Gaer and Mr Jukes went to Stow Hill School.

He left school aged 13 and worked for the local milkman until he was old enough to join his brothers at Whitehead where he started as an electrical apprentice.

Mr Jukes went to night school and became a fully qualified electrical engineer and was devoted to the Whitehead company.

He retired in 1982 at the age of 55 as first chief electrical engineer.

Mr Jukes was also interested in chess and enjoyed motorcars, tennis and golf.

He was also a founder member of Whitehead's sailing club.

Mr Jukes' wife Sheila died in 1991 and he remained in Newport until last November when he moved to Nailsea to live with his daughter and son-in-law Linda and Roger Cox when his health started to deteriorate.

Mr Cox said: "He has always been a very kind man and would go out of his way to help others. Family was very important to him.

"He lived a long life and he will be missed by those who were close to him."

Mr Jukes also leaves behind his four granddaughters Vicki, Kate, Bethan and Emma, great-grandson Samuel, companion Hannah and brother Horace.

Mr Jukes' funeral will be held at Gwent Crematorium on Friday, July 13, at 10.30am.