ONE of Newport's most distinguished citizens - a D-Day veteran and the first director of prisons in Northern Ireland - has died.

Tributes have been paid to WI Davies, who was known as Lyn, following his death last Friday in his 87th year.

"For those of us privileged to have known him, particularly in recent years, his death is like the passing of an institution," said family friend Sandy Blair.

"A great raconteur himself, there are also many stories about Lyn, about his support and encouragement for others."

Mr Davies was educated at Durham Road Junior and Newport Grammar Schools before joining the Post Office.

At the outbreak of the Second World War a recently married Mr Davies volunteered for the army.

He joined the Signal Corps, having previously been an NCO in the South Wales Borderers as a cadet, and undertook officer training at Sandhurst.

He was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers with the newly formed Reconnaissance Regiment.

"Lyn led his troop on to the Normandy beaches on D-Day, and through the various battlefields of Northern France, Holland and western Germany until victory was secured," said Mr Blair.

During this remarkable series of campaigns, the Reconnaissance Regiment sustained 70 per cent casualties, and Lyn was both wounded himself and promoted to captain in command of a squadron.

After the war Mr Davies, now a father of twin boys Peter and John, and another son, Hugh, joined the Prison Service and was subsequently appointed deputy governor of Durham prison.

He was governor at Bela River in Westmoreland, Swansea, Chelmsford - where the Great Train Robbers were held before their trial - and Strangeways, in Manchester.

An ex-prisoner once told Hugh Davies that his father was hard but fair.

As the most senior prison governor in Britain he became Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons, but his greatest challenge was yet to come.

In 1977, Mr Davies was asked to become the first Director of Prisons, Northern Ireland. It was a time of turmoil during the era of the H Blocks, the "dirty protest" and hunger strikes.

Mr Blair said the job required "a man of enormous determination, courage and commitment".

Mr Davies retired with his wife, Elsie, to the village of Llantrissent, near Usk, where for over 20 years he made a substantial contribution to the local community as church warden, community councillor and chairman and treasurer of the local Cheshire Home.

"A remarkable figure of authority remoulded as the years passed into a respected and much-loved father figure," said Mr Blair.

Mr Davies was a lifelong sportsman and Newport rugby supporter, who took great delight in the recent revival in fortunes at Rodney Parade, especially the victories over Cardiff.

A funeral service for Mr Davies, who leaves his widow and three sons, is being held at 1.45pm at Llantrissent, near Usk, next Tuesday.