Dennis Bird, a Sussex writer who became a regular contestant on radio and TV quiz shows, has died aged 74.

Mr Bird was a senior civil servant, commuting from his home in The Avenue, Shoreham, to the Home Office at Westminster.

He later became a lecturer in public administration at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale, Berkshire, and wrote a book about the college's history.

Mr Bird was an expert on Shoreham Airport and gave entertaining talks to local societies. He co-authored a book about the airport's history.

He joined the RAF when he was 18 and stayed for 20 years, retiring with the rank of squadron leader.

But it was as a contestant in several quiz shows in the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties that he became well known to the public.

It started when he was in the RAF and appeared on Hughie Green's Double Your Money, winning £500.

He went on to appear on Mastermind, BBC Radio's Brain Of Britain, in which he got through several rounds, and Jimmy Tarbuck's Winner Takes All.

He was known as Dennis L Bird and also Dickie Bird.

Mr Bird started his writing career when he was 16 and sometimes wrote under the name of John Noel.

He was a good ice skater and became the skating correspondent for The Times, travelling to sporting events around the world.

He wrote music reviews for Sussex newspapers and edited the Shoreham Parish magazine for the churches of St Mary and St Nicholas.

He leaves a widow, Anne, who he married in 1959, and daughters Clare, who lives in Shoreham, and Juliet, who lives in Devon.

Mr Bird died at Worthing Hospital on July 30 after failing to recover fully from a stroke and heart attack in March.

His funeral will take place at St Nicholas Church, Shoreham, on Wednesday at 3pm.