The organ was played by Paul's grandson, Rupert Compston (Organ Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge); his daughter, Caroline, and other grandchildren, Harriet and Benji Compston and Susannah and Emma Jane Odgers (daughters of son Robin) contributed readings and prayers; Dan Turner from New College Choir sang and Paul's godson, Patrick Lepper, gave the tribute (from which much of the information below is drawn).

Paul graduated from New College, Oxford, with an MA in Classics and Modern History and then entered the Civil Service at the Board of Education.

When war broke out, he joined the Oxon & Bucks Light Infantry and in 1943, when serving as a Staff Captain in Malta, his organisational talents were spotted by General Montgomery, who brought him into his 8th Army HQ, as a major, for the invasion of Sicily and Italy.

A year later he took him onto his new command, 21st Army Group in England, the land force for the invasion of France. Paul designed, tested extensively in southern England and then ran a tented and mobile Tactical Headquarters for an Army Group of some 30 Divisions, which enabled Monty to be closer to the action after the D-Day landings.

Paul, accompanied Monty to France and, as Senior Admin Officer, ran the Operations Room among other things, bringing order to the crucial reporting back of Monty's young Liaison Officers each evening and keeping Monty's forward HQ working well, all the way to victory.

After the war, Paul returned to the Board of Education and by 1958 had risen to Under- Secretary level, after a two-year stint in the Cabinet Office. In 1975, he retired from the post of Deputy Secretary in the Department of Education and Science (DES), having previously had a second spell in the Cabinet Office and been made a CB, and he and his wife, Diana (whom he married just weeks before D-Day) moved to Haddenham.

Although much of his retirement time was spent on national organisations – on the Council of the Girls' Public Day School Trust and as treasurer, and later a vice-president, of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies – and in pursuing his history/classics interests by carrying out, with a friend, a major Roman Study, rediscovering the entire 20-mile course of the great aqueduct that watered the Roman city of Nîmes, he did also contribute to village life.

His organisational skills proved invaluable when, in 1991-5, he led the St Mary's Church Restoration Fund committee as chairman. The Diocesan Quinquennial report had highlighted the need for major repairs to the roof etc and the committee took on the task of raising £80,000, which, as costs escalated, rose to £120,000.

Villager John Davis, one of the members of the small committee, wrote in tribute: "That committee remains one of the few that I have worked on, that not only raised double its original target, and did so while retaining general goodwill, but more remarkably finished its task and dissolved itself. Paul's leadership, attention to detail, and determination, inspired not only the committee but the whole church family."

Ian Chalk, another committee member spoke of the way Paul always kept out of the limelight, even to the extent of not attending a fundraising auction of promises (to which he'd donated a holiday in his French holiday home, near Nîmes).

His experience at the DES was put to good use when, in the 1980s, he became an LEA governor at St Mary's School. Retired head teacher Pauline Woods paid tribute to his quiet and calming influence and said he was very supportive. And former pupils of the school may remember his appearances as Father Christmas, distributing gifts at their Christmas party.

He was also a long-time supporter of Haddenham Village Society and he and the late Sir Denis Wright delighted fellow members by giving a knowledgeable guided tour of their respective Oxford colleges for the society's annual outing in September 2001.

SNAKEMOOR. Robyn Thorogood reports that, thanks to the 12 people who attended the working morning at the reserve, nearly 40 trees were planted and the ground was prepared for some hedge planting.

CTIH. Jane Rose reports that more than 50 people from the four village churches met together at Haddenham Methodist Chapel on January 20 to renew the Churches Together in Haddenham covenant. The service, which is an annual event in the life of the village, takes the form of an Agape (a feast to celebrate God's love) and it marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Those present enjoyed light refreshments and a time of fellowship together, which included a short talk entitled The Haddenham Omnibus given by the Rev Derrick Chambers (Methodist minister). Also present were the ministers from the other three churches: Father Leszek, who is the new CTIH chairman, the Rev Chris Denham and the Rev Carol Murray. Members of the four churches provided the food and took part in the service. The music was played by Heather Woods, who has now been the organist at the Methodist Chapel for 40 years.

MUMMERS. Mike Whitney is appealing for photos taken of the Haddenham Mummers during their Christmas 2007 tour to fill a gap in the group's scrapbook. Several people were seen photographing the Mummers during performances of the play, so if you can help with their request please contact Mike on 290791.

REFUSE FREIGHTER. AVDC will be providing a means of disposal of garden rubbish and bulky household refuse next Wednesday (12-3.30pm) at Banks Park.

THIS WEEK. Visitors and/or prospective members will be welcome at any of the meetings publicised below.

Darby and Joan. Today's meeting (2pm) at the Youth and Community Centre, Woodways, provides members with a chance to play cards and other games and to catch up on the gossip. Next week's meeting features Mr Frith's annual quiz.

Village Prayers. This month's Prayers for the Village, organised by Churches Together in Haddenham, will be led by a member of St Mary's Church. The half- hour prayer session is on Saturday (9am prompt) at the Methodist Chapel.

Quiz. Call Shelley Smith (290171) to check if tickets (£5) are still available for Saturday's quiz, on the theme of Entertainment, which is being held to raise funds for play equipment at Puddleducks Pre-school.
'100% Worship'. You are invited to participate in an evening of contemporary worship led by Colin Foster and the 100% worship band at the County First School (note the change of venue) on Saturday (8pm). Enjoy a blend of new and familiar songs and choruses.

Ceilidh. At Saturday's ceilidh (8pm) in the village hall, the band Housewives' Choice (which has played at the Towersey Festival) will be providing the music, Aine Butler will be demonstrating Irish step dancing, and Roy Bailey will be performing songs by contemporary songwriters in an informal concert in the Walter Rose Room. Tickets (£9, or £4.50 for children) cover either or both events. Call Haddenham Ceilidhs on 01296 415333 for more information.

Caféplus+ Swapshop. The monthly CaféPlus+, organised and run by members of St Mary's Church, is on Sunday (9.30am-12.30pm) in the village hall. This month, following last year's successful bookswap, the morning will include a more general swapshop. You are invited to take along anything you are happy to give away to someone else and to do your bit to reuse and recycle by receiving anything which you might find useful from someone else. Books, clothes, tools, household items and more are all welcome but no electrical goods please and you are asked not to use the swapshop to get rid of your old 1950s wardrobe in the hope that someone else will take it to the tip afterwards.

Health Walk. 'Simply Walk' your way to better health on Sunday's four mile circular walk starting at 2pm from outside the library. Don't forget your stout footwear and suitable clothes to cope with stiles and muddy paths.

U3A. Villager and swift expert Peter Gulland will be giving a talk entitled Surely they don't fly continuously for nine months? The inside story of Haddenham's swifts at Haddenham U3A's monthly meeting on Monday (2.15 for 2.30pm) at the Youth and Community Centre, Woodways.
Parish Council. The February meeting is on Monday (7.30pm) in the Walter Rose Room.

Quiz. The Rose and Thistle's monthly charity quiz, in aid of the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust, will be held next Wednesday (8pm).

WI. Vera Moyle-Maton will be talking about My Time as an Evacuee at Haddenham WI's meeting next Thursday (2.15pm) in the Walter Rose Room.