AN ISLE of Wight forces veteran who served during the first Gulf War and during 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland, former RAF squadron leader, Stuart Boyd, has died on March 9, aged 62.

Born in Glasgow's Gorbals area on January 11, 1962, he was told he was not RAF material, but proved his doubters wrong.

As a young man, Stuart was inspired to join the RAF after watching a Vulcan bomber fly past a windmill in Leverton, Nottinghamshire, where his father worked an electrician.

By 16, Stuart undertook a 14-month sea voyage from Singapore as a cadet deck officer with Lyle Ship Management, quickly rising to ship's cook.

Stuart was arrested off the island of Nauru, only to receive a royal pardon from the Queen, ahead of her visit there.

Despite advancing to chief mate, he stubbornly pursued his RAF dream, taming his Glaswegian accent and famously becoming the sole successful applicant out of 44 hopefuls.

Stationed in Larbuck, in the former West Germany, Stuart qualified as a Tornado jet pilot, deployed to Tabruk, in Iraq, just before the first Gulf War.

Significantly, Stuart unknowingly created the world's largest man-made crater visible from space, when he was ordered to bomb an old store laden with explosives.

On one heroic mission, regarded in RAF circles now as 'legendary', Stuart saved a fellow air crewman by averting a guided missile.

Recognising his daring act, United States Air Force members saluted Stuart upon landing, and he was considered for a Distinguished Flying Medal.

Stuart subsequently ceased flying to shape his career as a certified engineer with a masters degree in Jaguar plane construction.

He then emigrated to New Zealand, joining their air force, before he moved back to Yarmouth, where he became the town's church clock keeper.

Stuart first visited the Island for his honeymoon with his late wife in 1984 and visited frequently.

He owned a boat on the River Hamble and made frequent visits, with an ambition to live on the Island one day — a dream he realised in 2015.

A motorcycling enthusiast, Stuart participated in local fundraising rides and, amusingly, attended The Gentlemen's Ride Out in a kilt, humorously quipping about his lack of underwear under the garment.

Known for his sense of humour and generosity, Stuart served the local community and the Ministry of Defence with diligence.

Stuart is survived by his partner, Dianne Walker, a sister Ann, and an aunt, Charlotte, of North Devon.