A KEEN sailor, whose passion for the sea and kindness towards others informed the choices he made throughout his life, has died at the age of 73.

Anthony Robert ‘Rob’ Biddle died in Poole General Hospital on December 24 last year.

His wife of 50 years, Libby, said the committed Catholic was “Bournemouth born and bred”, and loved life by the sea.

As a boy, Mr Biddle attended St Walburga’s Catholic Primary School in Moordown before taking on an apprenticeship at de Havilands in Christchurch.

However, the company closed down before he had finished and he transferred to Moores in Wallisdown, which was later to become Magellan Aerospace.

He remained at the company until his retirement through ill health in 1997, ending his time there as general works manager.

Following his retirement, Mr Biddle taught himself computing, and put together a number of DVDs and slideshows comprising photographs of his travels with his wife.

The couple met at Struan Hotel near Ringwood in July 1962, and were married just eight months later. They had two children, David and Jane, and enjoyed living in Parkstone.

A move to West Moors ended after seven years as Mr Biddle said it was too far away from the coast.

He was a member of the Bournemouth Catenians from 1980, an association for Catholic men.

And his love of sailing led to him to New Forest and District Sailability, an organisation which enables people with disabilities to participate in the sport.

He volunteered with the charity for more than a decade, combining, as his son said, his “sailing, organisational and practical skills with his generous and caring nature”.

Even after illness forced him to stop sailing, he continued to help organise trips with the charity.

He was also a member of the Poole Radio Yacht Club, a pastime that he greatly enjoyed.

Mrs Biddle said: “I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who attended my husband’s funeral.

“It has meant so much to all of us.”