POOLE builder and RAF serviceman Norman Rigler died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on June 24, aged 73.

He built many award-winning homes across the south from Bristol to Southampton, finished to exacting standards, and built the Wessex neurological ITU at Southampton General Hospital and the C4 top floor at Poole General Hospital.

Born in Hamworthy, Mr Rigler met his future wife Geraldine at school when he was just 12 years old, and she 11.

He was a keen footballer and played for Hamworthy United and Poole Town, and was apprenticed at Dorset Iron Foundry, but after missing out on National Service he decided to join the armed forces.

He and childhood sweetheart Geraldine married after he had completed his training for the Royal Air Force, and he was posted to RAF Conningsby, where they lived in a static caravan.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis he was one of the few servicemen selected to control the tight security of the Thor Missiles.

During his RAF career he was posted to Tobruk but returned to the UK after two years to be with his growing family.

Before he left the service, Mr Rigler decided to get the flying bug out of his system and had a go with the help of a pilot friend – with a few acrobatics thrown in.

He later took a flying course and proudly flew solo and thereby achieved his wings.

With two daughters to look after, Mr and Mrs Rigler moved back to Poole and there he supervised the building of their house, marking the start of a new career.

He was highly-regarded as a builder – and known locally as ‘Stormin’ Norman’ – but never expected anything of his workforce he wouldn’t do himself.

He had the gift of being able to draw an artist’s impression of whatever project he set his mind to, and his abiding motto was “measure twice and cut once”. He loved things to be straight, level and in order.

A member of the Spiderman Band, Mr Rigler and his colleagues raised much money for charity through appearances on television and in carnivals.

He enjoyed many holidays with his family, travelling on Route 66 across the United States with his wife in an RV and having many adventures, and visiting many other countries besides.

Described by his family as a “lovely, kind perfect gentleman”, he loved his children and grandchildren with a passion and was devoted to his great-grandson.

He was delighted to know that he would soon gain a great granddaughter.

A funeral service was held at St Mary’s RC Church in Wimborne Road on Wednesday.