TRIBUTES have been paid to a “true gentleman” who was instrumental in launching Concorde before taking over a Cricklade pub.

Colston Brian Boulton, a former RAF engineer and senior inspector on the supersonic project, died on June 5.

He was the landlord of the Red Lion for 21 years after a long association with Concorde and the Bristol Aircraft Corporation.

Mr Boulton was born in 1937 at Southmead Hospital and was brought up in Horfield.

After serving in the RAF, he worked for BAC in Filton where he became a senior inspector on the Concorde project.

It was at BAC that Mr Boulton became widely known by his second name, Brian, so as not to confuse him with another worker, who was also named Colston.

While he was on a home visit from Toulouse, Mr Boulton met his wife, Mo.

Mo later also joined the Concorde project as the test crew nursing officer.

After marrying in Mrs Boulton’s hometown of Letchworth in 1968, they moved to Bristol before finally settling near to RAF Fairford, where the Concorde flight test crew was based.

When the Concorde project came to an end, Mr Boulton became the landlord of the Red Lion in Cricklade from 1977 until 1998 where he and Mo, along with their customers, raised more than £28,000 for charity.

Mo also served as a Cricklade town councillor and magistrate.

Shortly after Mo’s death from cancer in 2010, Mr Boulton was diagnosed with the same illness.

Despite his deteriorating health he continued to enjoy an active social life and enjoyed regular trips around the country.

A memorable trip was as a guest at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party which he and Mo had hoped to attend together.

Mr Boulton died on the second anniversary of his wife’s death.

Close family friend Mandi Francis said: “Brian and Mo were key characters of the Cricklade community where they are still revered with great fondness”

Mandi added: “After Mo died, Brian would return to the Red Lion to mix with his old customers, mull over the good old days and enjoy a few pints.

“He was a true gentleman who will be deeply missed by all.”

Last year, Mr Boulton was able to pay a special last visit to the Concorde at Filton with his brother Mike and nephew Ian.

Mike said: “Concorde had played such a large role in my brother’s life it was fantastic to have an opportunity to be on board with him for one last time.”

His nephew Ian added: “To hear about the adventures that the test crew had around the world was both inspirational and great fun.

“He knew his way around the Concorde so well I thought, at one moment, he was in danger of getting the engines fired up again!”

Mr Boulton, who was 75, will have an aviation theme for his funeral.

The memorial service will be held at St Sampson’s Church in Cricklade at 1pm on Friday, June 29,when all Mr Boulton’s friends and colleagues will be welcome.