HE is the veteran who became a local hero to keep his village looking spick and span.

John Harold Lovell, who recently died aged 89, is thought to have removed tons of waste from the streets of Marchwood.

Villagers clubbed together to buy a plaque and a memorial bench in his honour.

They set out to raise £800 but hit their target in less than 12 hours and watched the total grow to £1,265. Any money left over will be used to buy equipment for other litter pickers in the area.

John was the youngest of six children to Charles and Bessie Lovell and left school when he was aged 14 to work on farms in East Wellow.

In 1959, John married Victoria, and secured the position as herdsman on the Paultons Estate, Ower.

During his 20 years working at Paultons, he helped expand the dairy unit and became dairy manager overseeing the two herds and the dairy team.

The great grandfather, who had six children, nine grand children and two great grand children, was a keen gardener, and kept a large vegetable garden and grew dahlias. He also kept pigs in the garden.

John was a member of the Hampshire Herdsman Club and was a member of the Tug a War team. He was awarded their ‘Herdsman of the Year’ award.

In 1985, moving away from farming, he secured the position of Historic Buildings Warden for New Forest District Council. He was based at Hanger Farm, Totton, and during his time there the surrounding green fields overtime become covered with hundreds of new houses.

His instinct to keep things tidy outside were well exercised here as he went around the site and collected all the surplus waste timber discarded by the builders.

In 2012, NFDC marked the Queens Diamond Jubilee by holding a ‘Diamonds of the New Forest’ reception. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Marchwood community, John was nominated by Marchwood Parish Council as their ‘Diamond’ and attended the reception on 19 June that year.

In September 2019 Dad started to attend the Horris Day Centre with senior citizens twice a week.

His son Andrew Lovell said: "Dad was very content with his life, his glass was always half full, and he largely enjoyed good health. He worked hard, kept himself busy and enjoyed his family and surroundings.

"Enjoy your well earned rest dad, you will be missed."