A FORMER Poole mayor who devoted the latter part of his life to caring for his wife, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, died five days after she passed away.

Gerald Bailey, 93, and his family were preparing for the funeral of his wife Lily, 92, when he died suddenly of heart failure.

“It just stunned the family,” said son Maurice, who was about to return from his California home for his mother’s funeral, when with his sister Yvonne and brother Alistair they found themselves planning a joint service for both parents.

“I think he really loved my mother. I didn’t realise until probably the last three years just how much he loved her. He couldn’t bear it when they were separated,” he said.

Yvonne had been with their father an hour before he died, when he was approving the order of service for his wife.

“I think the stress was just too much for him. Sometimes people just decide it’s time to go. I think that’s what happened with Dad,” he said.

The former career lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy, who was recently awarded the Arctic Star, seven decades after serving on the Russian convoys, was Mayor of Poole in 1986, with wife Lily his Mayoress.

The couple moved to Poole in 1971 and he worked as clerk to the governing body of Poole Technical College. A Conservative, he was elected to the Parkstone ward in 1979.

Married for 69-years, Lily had suffered from Alzheimer’s for 15 years and Gerald looked after her until December 2011 when she moved into a care home. After a hip replacement and having had a heart attack and stroke, Gerald too moved into a care home.

“He had spent his life travelling and being on ships. Poole was his last anchorage. It really was a place he loved,” said Maurice.

The couple’s joint service of remembrance and thanksgiving was held at St Aldhelm’s Church, Branksome, on November 5, attended by family from across the world.