I was interested in the article in the Gazette recently about ex-POW Hans Bittner who married local girl Yvonne Trevorrow.

But I was rather surprised that there was no mention of the fact that Hans had been an extremely talented footballer who was for some years a stalwart at Devizes Town FC.

I have particularly fond memories of Hans when, as a shy 15-year-old, I was selected to play for Devizes Reserves at the Town ground.

Hans was then very much a senior figure at the club and, sensing that I was very nervous, he took the trouble to put me at ease and promised to help me through the game.

True to his word, he provided three inch-perfect passes enabling me to somehow score a hat-trick.

As we left the field at the end, he put his arm around my shoulder and told me he couldn’t be more pleased if he had scored the three goals himself.

Such generosity of spirit was typical of Hans Bittner who was indeed a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

Incidentally, an endearing feature of the lovely little sweet shop run by Yvonne’s parents in New Park Street was the mis-spelling of the word confectionery on the sign over the door, which always made be smile when I saw it.

Robert Hayter, Chantry Court, Devizes.