Technical director of Bourne Steel, Roy Fox

Born in Watford on July 3, 1936, Roy had a sister, Margaret, four step-brothers and a step-sister.

Roy was recorded as the youngest person ever to pass the entrance exams for Watford Grammar School aged nine and after finishing his education, he took a job in the print industry.

He then completed his National Service with the Royal Signals in the Army in Catterick working as a radio operator.

On breaks from the Army, he became friends with his future wife, Sylvia, over the space of around 18-months and after completing his National Service, they were married two years later.

Initially the couple lived in Harrow in London, where they welcomed their daughter, Carolyn. Sylvia's father later sold his house to create two homes in Hallfield, which were built by her father and Roy.

While living in their new home, the couple welcomed their second child, Richard.

Roy secured a job at Bourne Steel in Poole in 1968 and the family moved to Canford Heath. Roy worked at the firm for 32 years, starting as a draughtsman and gradually working his way up to be the technical director thanks to his experience as a structural engineer.

The couple then decided to move to Winterborne Kingston in North Dorset in 1986.

Sylvia said that her husband loved building, repairing and making things, as well as being a member of some walking groups and holidaying in their caravan.

She described him as 'a real homebird' who also enjoyed helping his wife with the gardening, as well as hearing the news about his grandchildren, Jonathan, Becky, and Phoebe.

She said that almost 100 people came along to his funeral on Thursday, December 29 following his death on December 13 at Forest Holme Hospice, based in Poole, with donations from the service going to help other families who receive care and support from the charity.