A DEVOTED dad who “loved so many” has died at the age of 81.

Great-grandfather Ernest ‘Ernie’ Witt was born in Battersea, London, before being evacuated to Reading at the age of 10.

When he turned 18, Mr Witt was conscripted into the British Army, moving to Bovington Camp in Purbeck.

It was there that he met his future wife, Ellen, to whom he was married for 60 years.

Eldest daughter Christina Painter said: “They met at a dance in Poole, and that was that.

“Mum was 16 when they met, 17 when he proposed and 18 when they got married at St James’ Church.”

The newly-weds returned to Reading, where Mr Witt’s family still lived, and four years later had their first child.

Two more girls, Linda and Paula, were to follow – but there were many more unofficial family members.

Mrs Painter said: “My friends would ‘adopt’ him because he was so wonderful.

“Both myself and my sisters had friends who considered him to be their dads too.”

After he was demobbed from the Army, Mr Witt worked as a bespoke tailor for Burton in Reading, Poole and finally Bournemouth.

It was a career his grandfather had also devoted himself to.

But Mr Witt’s great passion lay in making music, and he played the bugle, drums, keyboard, piano, glockenspiel and more.

He had himself been a sea cadet from the age of 12 and joined the Poole branch as an officer after returning to Dorset.

There, he single-handedly revived the group’s band, which still performs today.

In 2005, he was honoured for his work with a Poole Achievement Award for Outstanding Long Service.

After his retirement from the cadets seven years ago, Mr Witt decided to use his musical talents once more, joining the Bournemouth Carnival Band as a percussionist.

Mrs Painter said: “He was very social and popular.

“Both dad and mum were members of the Jolly Pirates of Poole and helped to raise money for good causes.”

Mr Witt died in Poole Hospital on December 19 following a heart attack at home.

His funeral will take place today at Poole Crematorium from 4pm. All are welcome, and the family has asked for donations to the British Heart Foundation in the place of flowers.