ANDREW Squire was destined to play cricket being born in Edgbaston in 1944, close to the home of Warwickshire CCC.

But while he later turned out at the crease in East Hampshire, it was in a different kind of field where the father of four made his name.

Andrew was a globetrotting salesman who set up feed mills and advised Chinese farmers on nutrition during a 45-year career with ABN. He also ran the former butchers in the Folly Market and, together with his wife, Lucy, produced award-winning turkeys, pigs and cattle at Lythe Farm in the 1970s.

Mr Squire was eight when he moved from the Birmingham suburbs to Westbury House, West Meon, as a boarder where his mother, Doris, was a matron.

At 11 he passed the entry exam for Churcher’s College and became an apprentice with the Southern Electricity Board (SEB) after the death of his father in 1959.

After moving to Alton with his mum, Andrew, who was a brilliant cricketer, joined East Tisted CC, where he made many friends.

Andrew left the SEB for Levers Feeds and moved on to Bibby, which later became ABN, in August 1970. The company grew globally and Andrew’s expertise of the pig industry sent him to China.

Although he officially retired from ABN 16 years ago, he stayed with the company as an agent until three months before his death on December 5.

The family - now including daughters Miranda, Olivia and Rachael and son Alistair - moved to West Harting where Andrew grew award-winning vegetables and then to Liss, where life slowed down.

A hugely gifted amateur dramatist, good golfer and award-winning grass bowler, his funeral in The Oaks included an interesting eulogy by his brother, Peter, and an amusing one by closest friend Ian Brewin.

Most touchingly, it included a poem composed by his granddaughter, Daisy, which finished with the line: "Keep me in your heart I will stay there forever". He will be missed.