BEFORE HAMPSHIRE watchmaker George Percival Aviet died at the age of 76 he planned his passing in infinite detail.

So much so that Mr Aviet left instructions for three specific things to be carried out.

For his funeral at Southampton Crematorium he wanted a horse-drawn carriage, plus flowers in the shape of a clock face.

He also asked that his brother should be traced if possible and, finally, he requested that a death notice should be included in the Daily Echo for three weeks.

His poignant last message read: "The finest watchmaker of Hedge End has passed away - with nobody."

But, now, those few sad words may be sparking just the response that the old watchmaker hoped for.

A spokeswoman for his Hedge End solicitors, Eric Robinson & Co, told the Daily Echo how Mr Aviet was said to have been born in Armenia and moved to Britain with his father, leaving his mother and brother in their home country.

He was married twice but had no children of his own.

His solicitor said: "Towards the end of his life I think he felt that he had no one, although he had a lot of very good friends.

"When he said 'no one' I think he meant relatives, as opposed to friends. He didn't have any family."

The watchmaker, who ran a business in Hedge End for years and was still working from home after he retired, may well yet get his dying wish to trace his brother.

His solicitor said: "I think he was hoping that an announcement might spark people to come forward and it has, actually, because people that have known him from the past have made contact."

The executor for Mr Aviet's will, Brian Weeks of Upham, told the Daily Echo: "I only knew him for a short while after taking some clocks and watches to him for repair.

"He was searching for someone to look after him. He felt that there was nobody on this earth prepared to devote some time just to chat to him.

"The one thing I know about him was that he was a fantastic watchmaker - my biggest regret is that there is no young kid that actually learned the trade from him."

Mr Weeks added: "He always said to me that he wanted to try and find his brother and asked me to try on the Internet. I have tried but have just not been able to do it. I would be extremely interested to hear from anyone who could help me."

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Mr Weeks on 01489 860276.