TRAIN enthusiast, speedway fan and financial controller, Douglas Harris, has died at the age of 62.

Born in Hammersmith in 1953, Douglas, who was known as Doug to friends and loved ones, moved to Tarrant Rushton as a toddler with his parents where his father worked as Flight Refuelling Limited, which later became Cobham plc. He became an older brother to Gary, with whom there was a seven-year age gap.

Over the years, the family moved a number of times including to Wimborne, Hamworthy and Parkstone and Doug won a place at Poole Grammar School where he achieved O-levels in English, Geography, Chemistry and Physics.

After leaving education, he took on a part-time job at The Lord Nelson pub on Poole Quay before taking his first office job with Hants and Dorset Motor Services bus company for three years. He worked his way up to the role of schedule manager, BDH Poole, before taking a job as a financial controller with BF Crew garage until his retirement due to health issues.

Outside of work life, Doug met his future wife, Linda, in 1971 and they were married three years later in St Clements Church in Parkstone.

The couple lived in Wareham for a while before moving back to Parkstone and they welcomed their first daughter, Claire, in 1980, followed by Michelle in 1983 and Kirsty in 1988. Over time, Doug and Linda went on to welcome eight grandchildren into the family.

In his spare time, Doug will glue together and paint model trains and cars perfecting every detail including creating miniature train timetables.

He also enjoyed many family holidays, which often involved steam railways around the country, as well as trips to the Moors Valley Railway.

Doug would often travel to Cardiff to watch the speedway, in addition to watching the Poole Pirates in their home territory, and eventually saw them on the TV in the later years of his life. He also enjoyed listening to music by the rock band, ACDC.

He built an aviary in the garden of his home for his wife, Linda, to enjoy as the couple both shared a love of animals.

Douglas died on April 29 and his funeral took place on Wednesday, May 11 at Poole Crematorium with donations going to Julia's House children's hospice, which is based in Corfe Mullen.