A WAR veteran who lived in a nursing home in Weston-super-Mare has died.

In October, Arthur Steel celebrated his 107th birthday at Beach Lawns Residential and Nursing Home.

He received visits from the Scouts King’s Guard, who presented him with a special pin, as well as the Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Councillor John Crockford-Hawley.

The Mayor said: “With great sadness I have received news that Arthur Steel has just died in Beach lawns Nursing Home.

“I had the honour of presenting him with a Scout Association Thanks Badge on his 107th birthday.

“Arthur was a King Scout in the reign of George V and so this District’s first King Scout of Charles III reign came along to thank him for his past services to young people.

“He must also have been one of the oldest wartime RAF Beaufighter crew - shot down over the North Sea, broken leg, rescued by a fishing boat and survived. A great man. RIP.”

Rachel Miller, home manager at the care home, said the whole team at Beach Lawns paid tribute to Arthur, “who was a true gentleman”.

“We are proud to have had the privilege of caring for Arthur for the last nine years.

“He was one of the wisest, kindest, genuinely caring people you could meet, who had some amazing stories to tell.

“His life history was fascinating, and he had so much to teach us all.

“We are deeply saddened to lose Arthur but feel honoured to have known him for so long, and to have been able to celebrate his 107th birthday with him so very recently.

“Arthur, we will miss you enormously,” Rachel said.

Arthur, who lived at Beach Lawns, had a remarkable life history – during the Second World War he was a radio operator and navigator in the RAF.

In 1944 he was aboard an aircraft that went down over a North Sea minefield on a mission in Norway – he was the only survivor.