ELLISFIELD mourns Fred Appleton, a remarkable Hampshire man of many talents, who founded a dynasty.

Fred died recently, at the age of 86, and is much missed in the village where he was known for his kindness, his bird-tables and - in later years - for waving cheerily to everyone as he navigated his way around the village on "Nellie", his motorised chair.

He was born in Itchen Abbas and came to Ellisfield in 1957 as a cowman, working for Mr Cole, at Hill Farm.

After his wife died in 1972, he married Dorothy Harman, one of the first residents of Cannon Close.

She was widowed with eight children, Fred was a widower with five children.

So began one of the village's most remarkable dynasties - a fusion of two families who got on well and now number more than 170 members.

He was kindness itself to all his neighbours, including Sarah and Jack Pluckrose at No 2 Cannon Close.

Their daughter-in-law June Pluckrose remembers how Fred used to call in every morning to make Sarah early morning tea.

"We owe him a lot," she said. "He was caring and kind."

His daughter, Susan Whitfield, recalls it was Fred's wish to die at home with Dorothy by his side, the sun on his face and the birds singing. That wish, thankfully, was granted.