A ‘kind and generous’ father of four who left a permanent mark on Petersfield’s landscape and community has died at the age of 90.

Stepfather and grandfather Brian Keys was a twice-married man who loved sailing, family holidays in Devon and post vintage cars, with the twin brother from Dartford even providing his daughter and granddaughter with wedding transportation.

But the lifelong chartered surveyor with a “strong moral code” was also a successful businessman and entrepreneur whose work with 6a developments has brought new life to parts of the town.

The “very inspirational” Business Design Champion was heavily involved in the Holders Barn scheme and a key figure in landmark developments like the regeneration of The Spain, Old Market Inn and The Bran Tub, renaming the Lavant Street property Sarel Chambers after his mother and maternal grandparents.

Mr Keys was chair of Drum Housing from 1996 to 2003, playing a key role in the provision of local housing and also helped numerous people into work through the Building Steps charity he founded with friends in the mid 2010s.

The charity, launched with the aim of teaching adults safe working on building sites, helped 93 people to pass the CSCS exam over three years, with 65 finding work immediately afterwards.

He also joined forces with former town councillor David Petche in 2018 to launch Petersfield Gardeners to combat rising local youth unemployment, and was a committed member of All Saints’ Steep. This included spells as a church warden and PCC member, while Brian was also heavily involved in planning meetings and fundraising.

Mr Keys died after a short illness on July 18. He leaves four children from his marriage to Mary, who died in 2000, and had two step-daughters through his second wife, Ruth, who died in 2018. His identical twin brother Derek survives him.