A goodwill gesture to a heart charity was an obvious choice.

Michel Hooper-Immins, who has been treated for heart problems, presented £1,000 to the British Heart Foundation.

He made the donation on behalf of the Honorary Court Highclere No. 1 Weymouth of the Ancient Order of Foresters, an organisation he was chief ranger (president) of last year.

Mr Hooper Immins said: “Our organisation has enjoyed a number of social events and while having fun, we raise funds for local charities.

"In a particularly good year, the British Heart Foundation was a popular – and obvious – choice of charity to support during my year of office.

“Since my wife Joan and I are both having difficulties with our hearts, it seemed to be a practical choice as well. The money will help fund research into the causes and treatment of heart problems.”

Mr. Hooper-Immins is a public governor at Dorset County Hospital and chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Health Network, the Dorset CCG’s local patients’ panel.

The presentation was made at the Foresters’ coffee morning, held at the Chickerell home of the new chief ranger, John Dean, who is also Mayor of Chickerell.

Victoria Carswell, the British Heart Foundation’s fundraising manager for Dorset and Somerset received the £1,000 cheque.

She said: “A huge thank you to Michel Hooper-Immins, Chief Ranger of Honorary Court Highclere No. 1 Weymouth of the Ancient Order of Foresters for choosing the British Heart Foundation as his chosen charity for 2017.

“It is thanks to our supporters like Michel and fellow forester Peter Rendall, who is president of the local BHF Weymouth Fundraising Group, that the BHF is able to fund world-class research into heart disease. With support like this, we really can beat heart disease together.”