LOVING father of six children and recipient of a bravery award, Cyril Ellis, has died at the age of 89.

Born in Blandford on Saturday, July 3 1926, Cyril was part of a family of seven children, which was struck by tragedy when Cyril's younger brother, Doug, was killed in a cycling accident aged 17.

Cyril joined the Paratroopers aged 18 and went on to be based in Arnhem, Crete and was part of the 7th Armoured Division of the army, which was known for its distinguished service as the Desert Rat.

After completing his national service, he worked for a caravan company in Bournemouth and met his future wife, Nancy, in August 1947, whom he married just under two years later and honeymooned in Devon.

Initially, the happy couple lived with Nancy's parents, with Cyril working for Guy Buses and the following year, in 1950, they welcomed their first born child, Terry. Over the coming years, they welcomed five brothers and sisters more children including Pauline, Jackie, Roy, Gary and Mark.

The couple moved to various homes over time, with Cyril taking on farm work along the way, including emigrating to Canada at one stage, before coming back to Dorset. Cyril injured his back aged 47 and spent six months in hospital in a plaster cast from his neck to his waist. Following his recovery, he was put on a government scheme for rehabilitation, where he learned to become a bench welder, which proved to be successful as he went on to carry out underwater welding.

He enjoyed sailing in boats in his spare time on Wareham River and going mackerel fishing off Brownsea Island, with Cyril taking an early retirement aged 55. With his wife, they enjoyed trips to Yugoslavia, Switzerland and Italy and travelled around Europe in their campervan, before moving to Spain and France in later life.

In 1992, Cyril received the Chief Officer's Commendation from the deputy chief office for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, Neil Gaskarth, after rescuing an elderly neighbour from a house fire.

Despite being beaten back by thick smoke, 66-year-old Cyril led the woman to safety after finding her slumped on her bed, almost unconscious, before she was taken to hospital.

They moved back to live with their son, Terry, for a while, before finally settling in their own flat in Bournemouth. His funeral was held on November 13 at Poole Crematorium.