THE fourth oldest man in the UK, who was described as a “gentleman in every way”, has died aged 107.
Horace D’Arcy, known as Horie, was a former army captain and shop owner who lived in Southbourne at the time of his death.
His funeral is being held at Bournemouth Crematorium today, and friends and family will gather afterwards at the Captain’s Club in Christchurch.
Horie was a regular visitor to the hotel and would enjoy a latte and apple Danish there most days, as well as celebrating his birthday each year with friends and staff.
Richard D’Arcy, Horie’s nephew, paid tribute to his uncle who was “loved by all”.
His long and varied life started on March 10, 1911 in Guernsey, where he was born the first of three children to Frederick and Carrie.
Not long afterwards his father, a sergeant major in the Army Pay Corps, and formerly ‘The Dorsets’, was seconded for three years to the island of Mauritius where the family lived in the town of Vacoas-Phoenix .
In April 1923 the family returned via South Africa to the UK, settling in Parkstone and later Southbourne. Horie, his sister Joyce and brother Jack, attended Courthill School in Parkstone and then Stourfield School in Cranleigh Road. After leaving school, Horie worked as a motor mechanic, an electrician and then as a printing compositor.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted in the Royal Engineers and saw service in Italy and Greece.
He was commissioned in 1941 and was promoted to captain by the end of the war.
Following demobilisation in October 1945, Horie opened a tobacconist and confectionery shop, called D’Arcy and Mariette, in Fisherman’s Walk with his uncle Bert.
In September 1950 he married Jean Walker and the couple enjoyed playing tennis together, with both of them representing the county.
Sadly Jean died in 2008, by which time Horie had been registered blind through macular de-generation. A team of loyal friends stepped in to help him cope with everyday life.
Horie was able to live independently until December 2018 when he felt unwell and was admitted to Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Following treatment he was discharged on January 21, but he passed away the next day.
Juliet Pull, guest relations manager at the Captain’s Club, said Horie was a “very special man on every level”.
“Not only had he led the most adventurous life, but he lived to the incredible age of 107. Reflecting on his life, I am struck by the fact that that I will never again meet anyone of his age, and certainly not someone cracking jokes until their last day.
“His humour never left him and he was always raring to come to the Captain’s Club Hotel for his daily latte and apple Danish.
“Horie was never happier than among his friends, who gathered each day for coffee with him, and getting a morning kiss from me, which kept him smiling.
“It was a true privilege to know Horie – a gentleman in every way – and he is genuinely sorely missed from all of our lives.
“The whole Captain’s Club family mourn his loss and, more than anything, we are so grateful that we had the opportunity to know him and share in a part of his 11 decades in this world.”
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