An electronics engineer from Lowestoft, John French, who has died aged 76, led fundraising efforts to mark the birthplace of the hovercraft at Somerleyton.

The 19ft high column topped by a bronze hovercraft, which stands in the middle of the village as a permanent memorial to a significant achievement in British engineering by Sir Christopher Cockerell, was unveiled about four years ago.

Jack George French, always known as John, had written about 80pc of an exhaustive biography about Sir Christopher, who actually carried out the first trials of the hovercraft on the lawns of Somerleyton Hall in 1955.

It had been his aim to complete the book but just a month ago, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died at his home at Camps Heath, near Lowestoft.

It was while running his own business, Mariner Radar, that he gained his first qualification just days after his 50th birthday.

Dr French, who was awarded a PhD from Aberdeen University in 1986, had spent four years studying, researching and designing for his doctoral thesis.

After nearly 30 years' work, Dr French had sought a new challenge and decided to study for a doctorate.

'I didn't have a first degree or any school certificates. I went straight out to work at 15,' he told the EDP.

The end result, which ran to 415 pages and includes 200 plates, described a tracking system for birds and mammals.

The lightweight system, which was to sell around the world, used satellite technology to follow migration patterns all over the world.

It could easily be fitted to creatures from whales and seals to birds.

A funeral address will be made by Belinda, Lady Somerleyton.

Her late husband, who had chaired the committee, said that it had been particularly pleasing that the hovercraft column would stand in the village.

It would serve as a reminder that 'Somerleyton has played its part in our country's rich maritime engineering history although landmarks to our great engineers are all too few,' he added.

Dr French, who was also a gifted organ player, had even arranged for a Spitfire to mark the official unveiling of the memorial.

It was particularly fitting given Sir Christopher's work for the RAF designing radar and tracking systems over more than three decades.

His wife, Madge, and daughter, Rebecca, are both predeceased. He is survived by a brother and sister.

A funeral service will be held at St Mary's Church, Somerleyton, on Thursday, November 29.

Michael Pollitt