A SECOND World War hero, who finally received a medal for his contribution to the fight against fascism more than half a century later, has died aged 85.

Retired businessman and former county councillor, Donald Harman, from Kidderminster, spent two years from 1943 helping to keep Russia's struggle against the Nazis afloat.

The sub-lieutenant served on the destroyer HMS Savage, escorting ships ferrying vital supplies of food and weapons to the Russian port of Murmansk.

Mr Harman, who was a Conservative councillor on Hereford and Worcester County Council during the 1980s, was among former sailors invited to London in 2003 to receive the medal from the Russian ambassador.

The Cambridge graduate spent much of his working life as a senior manager with the British Oxygen Company, ending his career as a director for its Shrewsbury-based subsidiary, Atmos.

Mr Harman, a keen sportsman, of Blakebrook, died peacefully on Monday, January 9 after a long illness.

He had lived in Kidderminster for 40 years and leaves his wife of 56 years, Pat, three children and four grandchildren.

His funeral will take place tomorrow at Stourbridge Crematorium at 12.30pm.