A DISTINGUISHED pilot who flew wartime spies behind enemy lines was paid tribute to at a memorial service.

Len Ratcliff, who was born in Maldon and lived in Great Chesterford, flew night-time undercover missions throughout Nazi-occupied Europe, picking out well-known landmarks by moonlight.

Following the Second World War Mr Ratcliff moved to Halstead as the owner of grain merchants Newgrain.

During the war he led 71 secret missions and received numerous medals, including two Distinguished Flying Cross medals in 1942 and 1943, the Air Force Cross in 1943 and the Distinguished Service Order in 1944.

He passed away on April 1 this year aged 96, and on Monday a memorial service was held in Saffron Walden, where about 450 people came to honour him.

His son Rupert, 73, from Great Bardfield, said: "We had a choir from London come along and the music was excellent. I read a eulogy about his early life and sporting life as he played hockey for Essex.

"People from the RAF and Tempsford air base came, as well as all the friends he went shooting with.

"He made his life in Halstead, he spent his whole life there and took part in all the Halstead events."

Rupert attended the ceremony with his siblings Robin, Clive and Tessa.

Recalling his last memories, he said: "His walking was getting bad so every Friday I used to go and take him shopping around Waitrose- everyone used to say hello to him.

"He was always a good father to us and he always took an interest in what we were doing.

"He always encouraged us and nothing bothered him- he always used to look forward."

Leonard Ratcliff was also the chairman of the League of Friends of Halstead Hospital between 1985 and 1994, and managed to secure £100,000 of funding to open a ward unit in 1993.

Jackie Pell, chair of Friends of the Halstead Hospital, was at the service. She had called him a "true gentleman".

She said: "It really makes you think what a wonderful and modest man he was- it was because of people like him that we are living in a free country.

"I knew him for many years as most people in Halstead did. He was a very accessible man."

Speeches were read out by members of the war office and a Hercules C130 performed a flyover.

Lady Braybrooke, who owned an estate in Audley End with Baron Braybrooke, also gave a speech.