"YOU have been the love of my life. You were the best Daddy, the best husband, my soulmate."

Those are the words of Liz Gant as she pays tribute to her beloved husband and the devoted father of their nearly two-year-old son Arthur.

Graeme Gant lost his battle with cancer at Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington last month, aged just 42.

Liz and Graeme, from Marchwood, met at university in Cheltenham 18 years ago.

They married ten years ago at St Edwards Church in Netley and the music lovers danced the night away to a Motown band.

The pair honeymooned in Egypt, but after a series of amusing mishaps on their first trip abroad together they soon returned to their regular camping trips, particularly an annual jaunt to Swanage with Liz's siblings.

Graeme was a Marchwood parish councillor and worked for IT support provider QuoStar in Bournemouth for many years.

He loved playing his guitar and trying new things but, most of all, he enjoyed the simple things in life like spending time with his family.

Liz, a teacher at the village school, said: "I miss Graeme, every single hour of every single day. I will continue to bring The GantLife fun because that’s what we said we would do. Arthur will know his Daddy and know how amazing and truly inspiring he was.

"He is part of me, and part of Arthur. He has made me so happy, and he has kept me strong through all of this.

"He was one of kind who we all loved so much. I do feel incredibly lucky to have found a soul mate in Graeme and I have no regrets from our 18 years together. "

Liz will continue her blog The Gant Life on Facebook. The couple set it up because they hoped to be able to help others who found themselves in a similar situation. She also has plans for a children's book for her son.

A Just Giving page has been set up to give Arthur the best life possible and a celebration of Graeme's life will take place once Covid restrictions have eased.