The life of a seaman who fought the Nazis on board warships and rubbed shoulders with Hollywood stars has been immortalised by his loving niece.
Benjamin Sober fought for his country in the Second World War as a gunner and then had a career change as a cabin steward on board some of the country's most luxurious liners.
So to honour his memory, Sandra Moran commissioned a recently-completed bench with commemorate plaque in Mayflower Park - a stone's throw from where he would go to work.
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Sandra Moran, 66, and bench she commissioned for her late uncle at Mayflower Park (Image: Provided)
The 68-year-old said: “They did such a good job with it.
"It’s a lovely bench and I was so happy to see my uncle being honoured in that way.
"I did something to honour his memory because he was so good to me.”
Although he grew up in East London, Benjamin joined the Merchant Navy at 17 before fighting for his country against fascism in World War II.
Sandra - the only daughter of his younger sister - said he 'dodged death many times and was lucky to survive'.
Benjamin Sober as a younger man (Image: UGC)
After the war was over, he traded in ship guns for a steward's suit and a career in the cruising industry.
Mum-of-three Sandra recalled that she visited Mayflower Park numerous times as a child while the cruise liners her late uncle worked on were docked in the city.
The former civil servant said: “I came to Southampton when I was a child, when he was working at QE2, and he took us around to see it. It was fantastic."
Recalling how he would meet celebrities while working and get their autographs, she said: "I still have them all saved up.
"He met the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as well as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Marlene Dietrich.”
Benjamin Sober (Image: UGC)
A heart attack put an end to Benjamin's seafaring, and his health deteriorated, leading to his death in 1990 at the age of 66.
Sandra, from Windsor, had the bench commissioned in August last year, and it was installed recently.
She said: “We went to Southampton a few weeks ago and we saw the bench installed.
"It’s just nice to be able to have something there which we can remember him for. He was brave and like a dad to me.”
Sandra Moran, 66, sat on the bench she commissioned for her late uncle (Image: Provided)
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