Tributes paid to "Mr Royal British Legion"

TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a dedicated volunteer - described as “Mr Royal British Legion” - who worked tirelessly to support veterans in Rotherham and beyond for more than 20 years.

Barry Wragg died after suffering a stroke on March 17 at the age of 82.

Mr Wragg, of Thrybergh, volunteered with the Territorial Army for more than 20 years and had been president of the Rotherham, Rawmarsh and Parkgate branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) since 1997.

Christine Majer, RMBC lead officer for armed forces community covenant, worked with Mr Wragg on events such as Armed Forces Day and had known him for around six years.

She said: “Barry was a central part, he was ‘Mr Royal British Legion’, always very helpful and keen.

“He was always looking to do the best for the veterans in Rotherham, or in fact anywhere, it was at the core of him. He was a true gentleman.

“He found it an honour to have served in Her Majesty’s armed forces, he was very proud of that \_ you could see that in everything he did.”

Widow Cynthia Wragg said her husband died after becoming ill in the shower at their home in the morning.

Mrs Wragg said she had to help her husband out of the shower as his speech had become slurred and he vomited.

Paramedics arrived and he was taken to A&E at around 10am where doctors said he had suffered a stroke.

But Mr Wragg’s condition rapidly deteriorated and he suffered a seizure.

He was transferred to the stroke ward but died at around 9pm surrounded by his family.

Mrs Wragg (77) said: “It was horrendous, it was such a shock to everybody. We can’t believe it as he had been up and about in the morning.”

Mr Wragg, who also supported Rotherham Sea Cadets, was originally from Parsons Cross, Sheffield, and met his Herringthorpe-born wife on a blind date after he had finished his national service.

His brother Peter, who was in the RAF, also met Cynthia’s friend on the double date.

Mrs Wragg added: “I was 17 when we first met and he was five years older than me.”

The couple married in 1961 and welcomed their son Martin six years later, followed by daughter Jacqueline in 1970.

Mr Wragg also leaves behind granddaughters Holly (10) and Laura (14).

Mrs Wragg said she did everything with her husband who was “well liked and very popular”.

Mayor of Rotherham, Maggi Clarke, said she was saddened to hear of his passing.

The mayor added: “He worked tirelessly for the Royal British Legion.

“I last saw him on Remembrance Day when he recited a poem at the service.”

Chairwoman of the Rotherham RBL branch, Kathleen Roden, said Mr Wragg would be hard to replace.

She added: “He was a lovely man, a true gentleman. He never went out without a shirt and tie on.

“Everybody liked him, it’s a big loss.”

Mr Wragg will have a military funeral with a guard of honour at Rotherham Crematorium on April 6.