FORMER head New Forest agister, Raymond Stickland, has died at the age of 94.

Born in Alderholt in 1922, he was the youngest of four children who moved with their parents twice before setting up home in Linwood in the New Forest when Raymond was 15.

After leaving education, he joined his father who worked at Linwood Farm up to his death in 1947. Soon after moving to the area, he met his future wife, Joan, who worked nearby and the couple were married in 1942. The couple later welcomed their children, Rosemary and Arthur, after the couple moved to Bussies Farm, having started married life by living with Raymond's parents.

He volunteered with the area's home guard during World War Two and continued to work on the farm during the day.

Raymond had a great passion for the New Forest and was encouraged to apply for to become an agister, which involves looking after the commoners' stock on the land and tend to any sick and injured animals. Agisters are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to any incidents involving stock, often on horseback, as employees of the Verderers of the New Forest.

In April 1976, Raymond appeared in Daily Echo as he carried out one of his first responsibilities after being appointed as the Head New Forest Agister, where he presented former agister, Stuart Cooke with a pony and foal statue, following the news of Mr Cooke's retirement.

Two years later, Raymond told Daily Echo in May 1978 that the role of an agister was the perfect job for him as he 'loved animals.'

He was presented with a riding crop at the Verderers' Court at Lyndhurst to mark 30 years of the job. When asked whether this could be seen as a retirement present, he replied that he had 'a long way to go yet.'

He was also president of the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society and following his retirement after 37 years of service, he was made an honorary life member of the society in March 1985.

Raymond died on May 29th and is survived by his two children, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. His funeral took place on Tuesday, June 14, at Bournemouth Crematorium.