FORMER banker Samuel Norman Burton, known to friends and family as Norman, died peacefully at the Retired Nurses National Home on September 30, aged 100.

Born in Wimbledon, near London, Mr Burton first moved to Dorset in 1959 through his work with Barclays Bank.

He had joined the company shortly after leaving Kingston Grammar School, despite a widespread shortage of work due to the troubled economic conditions of the Great Depression.

Aside from a period of service with the army during the Second World War, Mr Burton remained with Barclays for his entire career, retiring in 1974.

He had married Win in 1940, and the pair, who had no children, settled in Boscombe and during the 1960s and 70s became involved with their new community.

He was closely involved with St John’s Church, in which he served in various roles including church warden and treasurer, and he and his wife were regular attendees at local history groups.

When Win died in 1986 he remained in the area. After retirement, Mr Burton was very active supporting the Barclays Bank Pensioners’ group, arranging outings and events.

Eventually he moved to the Retired Nurses Home in Bournemouth.

Although he was never a medical professional himself, his kind voluntary support of the Riverside Avenue facility throughout his retirement ensured he was given a home there when he decided to move.

He celebrated his 100th birthday at the home in January this year, with visiting family and friends from across the county – among them his then 90-year-old sister, Margaret – an event he enjoyed greatly.

A funeral service was held in St Saviour’s Church, Springbourne, on Tuesday, attended by many of the friends he had made among the wider community over the years.

Many had remained in touch with him at the home until the day of his death.

He will be remembered as a kind, generous man who devoted much of his life to helping others.