CYRIL Claridge, who has died aged 88, had a varied life as an accountant, war veteran, sportsman and horticultural judge.

Born in Salegate Lane, Cowley, he went to St Christopher’s Primary School, Temple Cowley Senior School, then the Oxford School of Technology in St Ebbe’s, where he studied commerce, including book-keeping which became his trade.

He joined John Allen & Sons, the Cowley engineering company, at the age of 16 in 1940 and rose to become chief accountant. After retiring in 1989, he continued as a trustee of the company pension scheme, finally calling it a day in 2010 after 70 years with the company.

He was also chief cashier at Oxford Stadium for more than 50 years.

Mr Claridge, of Hockmore Street, Cowley, served in the Royal Navy during the war, lying about his age to join. When Navy officials asked for his birth certificate, he said his mother couldn’t afford one.

After training as a wireless operator, he joined HMS Tracker, a small aircraft carrier, escorting convoys across the North Atlantic.

It was a hazardous life, with the constant threat of attack from German U-boats.

“We slept with our lifebelts on in case the worst happened,” he once recalled.

For many years, he toured the country judging chrysanth-emums at horticultural shows.

His wife Margaret and son Ian died in 2010.