TRIBUTES have been paid to a devoted family man who was a former Mayor of Weymouth and Portland and a founding member of the Wyke Regis Horticultural Society.

Arthur Sheppard, 95, died peacefully at the Mount Pleasant Care Home in Weymouth on July 16.

He was a much loved husband to wife Pamela and father to three children Linda, Valerie and Clive.

Mr Sheppard was born in 1920 in Treherbert, South Wales and was the third of seven brothers and sisters.

His family moved to England when Arthur was two as his father had secured a gardening job in Hampshire.

Mr Sheppard's son Clive said perhaps it was this connection that inspired his father to pursue his favourite hobby – gardening.

Clive added: “Dad was always ready to help others, particularly those less fortunate than him.

“He was an active friend of the town and was involved with various organisations including the Wyke Preservation Society and Britain in Bloom.

“Dad was one of the organisers of Weymouth’s quatercentenary celebrations in 1971, and in recent years a member of the nearby Bridport Burma Star Association.”

After leaving the Lord Wandsworth College in Berkshire, Mr Sheppard worked for a while at a chicken farm near Ringwood, before moving to a construction site near Blandford.

He later joined the RAF, serving through the Second World War as a wireless operator at stations including Ceylon, Singapore and Burma.

After the war Mr Sheppard met Pamela, who was to be the love of his life. An opportunity arose with the Admiralty at Weymouth and Portland, and the couple moved to Weymouth, marrying in September 1949.

Clive said: “Working on underwater acoustics for the MOD, Dad attended evening classes to study electronics and built his own TV set using valves and diodes.

“This was the first television set in the street and proved popular with our family.

“Dad was also an active allotment gardener and fought successfully to prevent the allotment site at Green Lane being sold for housing.

“In 1964 he became one of four founder members of the Wyke Regis Horticultural Society and even helped to build the society’s headquarters.”

Mr Sheppard was actively involved in the Dorset County Produce Association and a committee member of the Dorchester Show.

He was also a borough councillor for the Wyke Regis ward, was later borough mayor and after his retirement from the council he was made an honorary alderman.

A memorial service for Mr Sheppard will be held at All Saints Church in Wyke Regis, today at 1pm.