He made world a safer place for generations to come

Fond tributes poured in yesterday from around the world at his passing just eight months after r wife Barbara, who he was married to for 73 years. rs.

Mr Bush was praised for his cool leadership from 1989 to 1993 during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

And he built a coalition – including Britain n – to eject Iraqi dictator tor Saddam Hussein from rom Kuwait in the first Gulf ulf war.

Sir John Major, who h was Prime i Minister at the time, said: “I feel privileged to have worked with him. He was one of the most deep-down decent people I have ever known.”

Blowhard

PM Theresa May said: “In navigating a peaceful end to the Cold War he made the world a safer place for generations to come”.

President Donald Trump – who Mr Bush had dismissed as a “blowhard” – praised his “essential authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family and country”.

Ex-president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle credited Mr Bush’s immigration policies and for “helping end the Cold War without firing a shot”.

His ex-president son George W Bush said: “George H W Bush was the best dad a son or daughter could ask for.”

Mr Bush senior, son of a senator, joined the US Navy in the Second World War against his dad’s wishes at 18.

He became one of its youngest pilots and was shot down over the