HUNDREDS of people gathered at a Winchester memorial service to celebrate the life of a man who touched the lives of many across the world.

Clive Houghton, 53, was well-known in the city for setting up a charity for orphaned and neglected South American children with his wife Beth.

Tributes poured in for Clive during the service at Christ Church on Saturday. "Life with Clive has never been comfortable but it has always been exciting." said Mrs Houghton.

"We shared a lot of laughter, even the day before he died, and many happy memories."

Clive, a former pastor of the Immanuel Church and chief partner in a local firm of architects, died earlier this month following a two-year fight against prostate cancer.

His eldest son, Edward, spoke on behalf of his five brothers and sisters at the service.

"We loved our dad and we are going to miss him in so many ways but the things he built into us are going to last a lifetime," he said.

A host of friends and colleagues also shared their memories of Clive with the crowded church and a poignant visual timeline of his life in photographs was set to music.

Clive and his wife founded the Nicaragua-based charity, the Maranatha Family Village, after returning from a trip to central America in 1997.

With the help of the Immanuel Church, they started fundraising for Maranatha, with the hope of giving disadvantaged young people the opportunity to experience life in a family. Building work began in 1998 after thousands of pounds were pledged.