TRIBUTES have been paid to a veteran of D-Day and well known golfer in Abergele and Rhos-on-Sea.

Colin Anthony Harris died of pneumonia and cardiac failure aged 94 at Glan Clwyd Hospital on Monday, June 10.

Rhyl Journal:

Colin was among those who landed on Sword beach on June 6 1944

Born in Swansea on September 17 1924, Colin's family moved to Deeside in 1940 to escape the Blitz before he volunteered for the armed forces in 1942.

For the duration of the war, Colin served with the 2nd Battalion, King Shropshire Light Infantry and was among soldiers of the 3rd Division who landed on Sword Beach in Normandy at 9am on June 6 1944.

Colin's daughter, Moira Williams said: "Even though he had moved to get away from the war and had a reserved occupation in a laboratory, my father still volunteered.

"He was supposed to be on the MV Boudicca ship when it was taking the veterans to Normandy for the 75th anniversary, but unfortunately he was unable to go due to the pneumonia so he had to watch it on television."

Colin's service not only earned him British medals, he was also awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Government in 2016.

After the war, Colin returned home and following a brief stint with the police he went on to own a post office in Rhydymwyn, near Mold where he worked as a sub-postmaster from 1949 until 1968.

During that time, he met and married Olwen Williams in 1949 at a chapel in the village of Sychdyn in Flintshire, with whom he had four children Moira, Iona, Gaynor and Clive, who passed away in 2010.

Colin would marry again in 1971 to Margaret Marie Barrow, having another son Geraint, before moving to Rhos-on-Sea in the same year to pursue a career as a hotelier at the former Stanton House on Whitehall Road.

Following his retirement in 2003, Colin relocated once again to Abergele where he pursued his love of golf - nurtured at the Rhos-on-Sea Golf Club - at the his new home town's club on Tan-Y-Gopa Road. He also became a grandfather to eight children, and a great-grandfather to 10.

Remaining active throughout his retirement, Colin's hobbies such as cycling and hiking also kept him outdoors. He was also active in Abergele's Autumn Club at the community centre and the Stroke club at Canolfan Dewi Sant.

Mrs Williams added: "His favourite thing of all was to play at whist drives at his golf club in the winter time.

"He wasn't one to sit down and put on the telly, he loved nothing more than getting out and meeting people. He was well known by a lot of people and was such a great people person."

Colin's funeral takes place at the St Trillo Parish Church, on Llandudno Road Rhos-on-Sea, on Monday, June 24 at 11.15am, followed by his burial on the church grounds.

The family welcomes anyone who wishes to pay their respects, and ask that any donations be given to The Not Forgotten Association.