CAPTAIN Edward 'Dusty' Dunsterville has died at the age of 88 following a distinguished career in the navy.

Mr Dunsterville, known as Dusty, was Mountbatten's flotilla signals officer and was one of the few officers whose character featured in Noel Coward's 1942 classic In Which We Serve.

After leaving the navy he became closely involved with his community serving as chairman of Bisham Parish Council for three years in the 1970s and a councillor for Maidenhead and Windsor.

Edith Randall, a close friend and colleague of Mr Dunsterville on Bisham Parish Council, described him as a great man.

She said: "Everyone admired him. He was full of charm and dignity and was very modest. He really was a remarkable man."

Mr Dunsterville lived in Hockett Lane, Cookham Dean, and alongside his work on the council was a member of the local Conservative Association and involved with the NSPCC.

He had spent the last few years at Thamesfield nursing home in Henley where he died on July 30.

One of his most dramatic moments in the navy was onboard The Kelly alongside Mountbatten in 1942. The Kelly was attacked near to Crete by German dive bombers at 5.30am on May 23. Her fellow destroyer The Kashmir was struck amidship and sank immediately.

The Kelly was soon hit and sank quickly drowning nine officers and 119 men.

Dunsterville and Mountbatten saw the bomb coming and remained on the bridge until they were dragged under.

Eight officers, including Mountbatten and Dunsterville, and 120 men were rescued from the water.

When he left the navy he was chief of staff officer for the Mediterranean fleet. He then joined Racal Electronics, becoming director of Racal Slough and retiring in 1973.

Mrs Randall commented: "He was a great man and will be a great loss to both Bisham and Cookham Dean."

Mr Dunsterville married Justine Marcel in 1940. She died suddenly from cancer in 1990. He is survived by their son and daughter. He was buried alongside his wife at Bisham Church on August 4.