HERE are a few memories of Dr Giles Romanes, a leading surgeon who lived near Weymouth, who has recently passed away.

Dr Romanes, who died aged 97 at Chiddingstone, Kent on April 14, lived for a large part of his adult life in Portesham and was once one of the country's leading opthalmic surgeons, based at Weymouth & District Eye Infirmary.

He was later involved in the opening of the Winterbourne Hospital in Dorchester, heading up a group of a dozen local consultants to get patients through the door.

Away from work Dr Romanes was a steam engine enthusiast, owning a Wallis & Stevens traction engine named Goliath which he drove in many Weymouth Carnival processions.

The Portesham House resident was a founding member and director of the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

He left Portesham after 46 years in 2007 to be with his son in Kent. He was often seen around the village driving his steam engine around and giving rides at the village fete and buzzing overhead in his aeroplane.

His wife did much for the village over the years starting the Mother's Union and organising the making of the church kneelers in the 1970s.

The garden at Portesham House was open for charity regularly in the summer courtesy of the Romanes.

Thank you to Shane Seagrave of informing us of this sad news.