A CIVIL servant who travelled the world and looked after royalty and leading politicians died in Poole on June 13, aged 92.

Sir Gordon Booth and his wife Lady Jeanne, 91, entertained Margaret Thatcher, the Queen and Prince Phillip among others during their overseas postings.

Sir Gordon was brought up in Bolton, where he met his future wife at the Bolton Church Institute School in 1934. During the Second World War – in which he served as a tank captain – he and his childhood sweetheart were married on February 5, 1944.

After leaving the armed forces, Sir Gordon worked for the Ministry of Labour and the Labour Exchange in Bolton before the couple moved to London in 1952, where he went to work for the Board of Trade.

His work took him and his growing family to Canada in 1955, and later on to Trinidad. After switching to the Foreign Office, Sir Gordon moved to Denmark, and later to New York where they lived for more than five years. In 1975 they looked after Margaret Thatcher, then leader of the opposition, along with her husband Dennis, and the following year Sir Gordon was in charge of planning the Queen’s visit to the United States for the bicentennial celebrations.

The Queen and Prince Phillip invited the pair on board the royal yacht to show their gratitude, and Sir Dennis was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

They moved back to the UK in 1980, in the same year he was made a Knight Commander (KCMG). On leaving the service Sir Gordon went into business, serving as chairman of London Clubs International, and he continued working until he was 81.

He spent his later years living with his wife in Poole. This February they celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary with family and friends.

Sir Gordon leaves his wife, son and daughter and 16 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held at All Saints’ Church in Poole on Monday.