AN OLD solider who proudly carried the Boscombe and Bournemouth standard on remembrance Sunday for 25 years has died aged 87.

Bernard Poole was also thought to be AFC Bournemouth's longest serving fan - a member since he was four.

"I never realised how popular he was till he died," said his widow Dorothy, 87, originally from Wareham. "Ive had so many letters, even people stopping me in the street.

"He'd speak to anybody and do anyone a good turn. He always had a smile on his face. He loved the British Legion."

They had lived in their house in Wheaton Road, Pokesdown, since they were married and Mr Poole died on August 29, three days before their 62nd anniversary.

Mr Poole was a sergeant in a bridge-building section of the famous Eighth Army - through the battle of El Alamein in the North African desert, into Sicily, then Italy, and the bloody battle of Monte Cassino.

He didn't speak much to his wife about his service - but she knew from what he told friends he had nearly been blown up on several occasions.

He moved from Bristol when he was four and went on to become a member of many groups including the Royal Order of Buffaloes and the Fellowship of the Services.

He was the former branch secretary for the British Legion, the longest-serving vice president, the longest-serving branch member thanks to joining in 1946, and he organised the poppy collection for the area.

After the war he was a motor mechanic for Hunts of Pokesdown.