CHARITY and religious community founder, land owner and baronet Sir Thomas Lees has died aged 91.

Known to friends as Sir Tom, he founded the Post Green Community Trust, worked as a JP at the age of 26 and served as High Sheriff of Dorset in 1960.

In June 1975, he took on the role of sub postmaster in Lytchett Minster after the Post Office shop had closed, with assistance from Vivien Crouch, a fellow member of the Post Green Community.

Sir Thomas served with Dorset County Council for more than 20 years, at one stage heading up their Education Committee and was a general synod of the Church of England for 20 years. He also served as chairman of the Talbot Village Trust, which supports causes across Dorset, which amongst many projects helped to fund Upton Community Centre and a £170,000 extension to the Retired Nurses National Home in Riverside Avenue in Bournemouth.

In November 1992, he spoke to Daily Echo about the launch of a £4 million appeal to build a residential centre for people with disabilities, with the land for Holton Lee being donated by Sir Thomas and his wife, Lady Faith Lees.

The aim was to create a place where disabled people and their carers could stay for up to two weeks and make use of a 38-bed building, farm cottage, counselling centre, hydrotherapy pool and chapel. The couple won the Unsung heroes accolade from showbiz charity, the Celebrities Guild, in 1993, after being nominated by composer, Monty Newman, who created the James Bond theme tune.

The foundation stone for the site was laid in June 1995 and the Princess Royal rode in a pony and trap at Holton Lee during the official opening of the first phase of the work. The East Holton Charity, known as Holton Lee, went on to merge with the charity, Livability, in December 2014.

Lady Faith Lees died in September 1996 following a battle with cancer and together the couple had four children named Christopher, Sarah, Bridget and Elizabeth. After years of sadness, Sir Thomas went on to marry Lady Christine.

Sir Thomas died on February 19 and his funeral will take place tomorrow at Lytchett Minster Church, with Livability Holton Lee.