The funeral of one of the first pioneers of Stevenage New Town will be held tomorrow.

The Comet: Fred and Violet Udell on their wedding day in 1947. Courtesy of: Karen Harding.Fred and Violet Udell on their wedding day in 1947. Courtesy of: Karen Harding. (Image: Archant)

Fred Udell, 93, moved to Stevenage in 1952 with his wife Violet and their daughter Helen and were among the first residents.

Fred and Violet, who had been married for 70 years when he died, lived first in Abbots Grove and later in Boxfield Green.

A Royal Navy veteran, Fred was just 17 when he took part in the Arctic Convoys of the Second World War as a leading aircraft mechanic aboard aircraft carrier HMS Campania. He went on five convoys altogether and was also involved in D-Day.

Fred, a bricklayer by trade, also served on North Herts District Council and helped set up the town twinning association between Stevenage and Ingelheim.

The Comet: Violet and Fred Udell when they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007. Picture: Helen Lindhurst.Violet and Fred Udell when they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007. Picture: Helen Lindhurst. (Image: Archant)

He died at Garden House Hospice Care in Letchworth on September 8.

His funeral will be held at 2.45pm at Harwood Park Crematorium on Stevenage’s Watton Road.