DOZENS of mourners are expected at next week's funeral of leading Royal British Legion figure Charles Busby.

Known as Buss to his friends, Mr Busby, died on July 12, aged 87.

Born in 1919, and educated at Cranbrook School, Mr Busby had lived at his home, Willow Cottage, Benenden, for most of his life.

In 1939, before he had finished his 20th birthday celebrations, he was called up for service in the Second World War. He served as an air gunner with 500 County of Kent Auxiliary Sqaudron, reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

A founder member and secretary of the RBL's Benenden branch, Mr Busby dedicated most of his life to the Kent Royal British Legion, the Royal British Legion Industries, of which he of was chairman for 35 years, and the Royal British Legion Village, Aylesford, where an accommodation block was named after him.

Mr Busby, a former RBL national vice-president, was the first Man of Kent to become national RBL chairman, a post he held from 1975 to 1978.

In his final year, he headed a conference in London where a research project into the long-term effects of war-related deprivation on health was launched. It would have far-reaching implications for some of the country's former service personnel.

In 1949, Mr Busby married Diana Dalgarno, who died two years ago. The couple had no children.

Mr Busby worked as a valuer and surveyor from an office in Tenterden. He later became a partner of an estate agents in Tenterden and was formerly a partner at similar businesses in Maidstone and Cranbrook.

In 1971, Mr Busby was awarded an OBE for services to the Legion and in 1977 was awarded a CBE in recognition for his service to the Legion. News of his CBE came at the same time as he received notification that he had been awarded a Queen’s Silver Jubilee medal.

Three years later, in 1981, he was appointed a deputy to the then Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lord Astor of Hever.

Mr Busby was well travelled and visitied many countries as part of his work for the RBL, including Canada, Moscow, New Zealand and Washington.

In November 1978, he was forced to miss the annual Festival of Remebrance in London after he was injured crossing a road in Paris four days earlier. He suffered face and rib injures when he was involved in an accident with a motorcyle at the Arc de Triomphe.

Mr Busby’s niece Roisin Home said: "It’s the end of an era, he will be much missed by his family and by the Legion."

Mr Busby will be buried alongside his late wife at a service at St George’s Church, Benenden, on Tuesday at 3pm.