PETERSFIELD Physic Garden is a fitting place for the funeral reception of D-Day veteran Anthony Smee, who was a stalwart there.

Anthony, also known as Tony, who died peacefully at his Petersfield home on July 25, aged 90, was chairman of the garden for many years, and was the fundraiser for the visitor centre built in 1995.

He also spent a great deal of time pruning and cutting the hedges there to keep it looking at its best.

A very familiar face at St Peter’s Church too, he ran the church’s finances for 17 years.

And he was part of the team responsible for the transformation of the church to its current state, raising some of the funds himself.

Tony, who will be much missed by his children, Richard and Nicole, and grandchildren Annabel, Bobby, Charlie, Pippa, Rosanna, Tallulah and Will, was born in Rushes Road.

He was baptised, confirmed and married at St Peter’s having been a choirboy and Sunday School teacher there.

A pupil at Churcher’s College, he was a Scout in the Petersfield troop and played rugby for the town.

During the war, he was in the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and at the age of 18 was involved in the D-Day landings in France in June 1944.

After a successful career in London, as the managing director for a firm of chartered accountants, Anthony returned to Petersfield with his wife, Dorothy.

Nicole said:?“Dad was at his happiest when he was busy and he was still working on various local projects until his death which is just how he would have wanted it. We, his family, are grateful for this and that he was able to be his warm, generous, calm, dignified self until the end.”

There will be a short family only service at The Oaks crematorium in Havant. This will be followed by a thanksgiving service at St Peter’s Church at 12.30pm on Friday, August 26.

All his friends and former colleagues are welcome. There will be refreshments at the physic garden afterwards, or in the church if wet. Family flowers only. Donations to Cancer Research UK or Macmillan Cancer Support through Michael Miller and Partners Ltd. Call 01730 233244.

See page 27 for an obituary of Petersfield teacher Marc Eaton.