Reg Parkhouse, Fernhurst’s oldest resident and a pillar of the village, has died aged 102.

Reginald Henry Parkhouse was born December 14, 1917, at Goff’s Farm Cottages, Northchapel, the youngest of four children.

When he was six, the family moved to Upperfold Farm, Fernhurst, where he walked to the village school.

He left school aged 14, and worked as a gardener in the village. He also worked at a Wallington garage as a chauffeur and gardener and trained to be a mechanic.

After joining the Territorial Army, Reg was called up for training on September 3, 1939, before leaving for Cherbourg to join the 44th Home Counties Division.

When Hitler invaded Belgium, Reg’s division was driven back to Dunkirk where, after three days, he and 11 others were rescued by a small fishing boat and made it back to Ramsgate.

After a break, he saw action in Italy and North Africa. His division served as part of the 8th Army, taking partin the battle of Alam el Halfa and the El Alamein offensive in Egypt in 1942. A year later, he fought in the Allied invasion of Salerno in Italy and the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Reg wrote up his wartime experiences for the BBC archive WW2 People’s War and said Monte Cassino was the “worst thing I ever saw”.

After the war, he worked as a mechanic and foreman at Fernhurst-based Plant Protection Ltd, which later became ICI/Syngenta until his retirement in 1980.

His son Terry said Reg and his late mother Lavender were both active members of various clubs and societies in Fernhurst.

Terry said: “He followed his passion for gardening, winning awards for his chrysanthemums, roses and dahlias and various vegetables.

“Most recently, he is best remembered for travelling around the village on his REG mobility scooter.

“He has long been associated with the Fernhurst Scout Group, where he was scout master and a committee member. He joined in with activities including camps, ‘Bob-A-Job’ fundraising and preparing onions for the hot dog stand at Fernhurst Revels.

“He loved meeting people and enjoyed visits from his two grandsons and families, including his two great-granddaughters.

“He enjoyed his 102nd party where, not knowingly, he said his goodbyes. ”

* A funeral service will be held at St Margaret’s Church, Fernhurst, on Tuesday, January 21 at 1.30pm.