FORMER chairman of the Verwood and District Horticultural Society, Alan Leicester, died peacefully at home aged 86.

After his birth in the east end of London on June 30, 1929, Mr Leicester met his wife, Rosa, when they were both evacuated from Hackney to Cornwall and attended the same school aged ten and nine respectively, later marrying in 1950.

He left school aged 14 and went back to Hackney, where he worked for the Mentmore Manufacturing Company making fountain pens and went on to train as a design draughtsman.

Mr Leicester went on to do his National Service with REME in Honiton, Devon, where the couple welcomed, their first born, Martin in 1953, before the family moved to Cheshunt, Herts in 1954. Three years later, Alan and Rosa welcomed their second child, another son, David, He enjoyed taking the family on trips to London to see the sights, as well as to Tottenham and Arsenal football grounds, and loved watching cricket.

As a family, the Leicester's would holiday around the UK and Mr Leicester also doted on his grandchildren, Matthew, Philip, Adam and Sarah, and great grandchildren, Thomas, Harry and Sofia.

Rosa and Alan travelled around the UK for a number of years looking for a place where they could build a home, before eventually settling in Verwood. Mr Leicester was an active member in the community, delivering the day centre lunches, driving for Dorset Country Cars and taking a number of roles in the Verwood and District Horticultural Society, including as show manager, chairman and honorary president.

He appeared in Daily Echo in 1985 after winning the first in show prize in the flowering shrub section and said that it was his first top trophy in the eight years he had been part of the society.

He also said that gardening had always been a favourite pastime of his, having enjoyed the hobby since he was given a piece of land to look after at his parents' plot as a boy.

Mr Leicester's life was commemorated at his funeral, which took place at Poole Crematorium on Friday, August 21, with his family asking for donations to Macmillan Caring Locally instead of flowers.