Tributes paid to an ‘incredible father’

David, of East Preston, died surrounded by his family at St Barnabas House hospice, Worthing, on April 16, following a battle against leukaemia.

Known as Dutch by his friends and family, he has been hailed by people from across Rustington and East Preston for his dedication to community work and his determination in making Rustington and East Preston brighter, with Rustington Parish Council’s chairman, Andy Cooper, praising David as “a true man of Rustington and a pillar of the community”.

Son Courtenay said the family had been rocked by David’s diagnosis of the terminal illness on September 7, last year – the day of David’s 78th birthday.

‘Incredible father’

Courtenay, who worked alongside his father at the family business, said: “He had been in a lot of pain and it was tragic for us to see him like that but we know he is in a more peaceful place now.”

He added: “He taught us everything that we know, how to respect people and how to love people. He was an incredible father.”

Friend and colleague Mike Harwood, 54, said David was “a wonderful man” and that it was “heartbreaking” to hear of his death.

“When David died it was one of the saddest days of my life. The family were devastated,” he said.

“They are a very close and lost a quarter of a whole. He was a wonderful man with a great heart and a kind spirit and it’s a heartbreaking to see him finally go.”

David had been best known for his work in Rustington during the village’s numerous regional and national In Bloom bids.

Last year he, along with his staff, helped to put the village on the horticultural map, by winning a gold at Europe’s most prestigious floral competitions, the Entente Florale international championships.

On Monday night councillors from the village’s parish council made the decision to immortalise David for his contribution to Rustington by agreeing to commission a commemorative boulder.

‘Pillar of the community’

Mr Cooper added: “David has always gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“He is a true man of Rustington and pillar of the community who will be greatly missed.”

David moved to Rustington as a young child. After completing his National Service with the RAF, he moved to East Preston, with his wife Sylvia.

Weeks later, in 1955, he became a retained firefighter at the village fire station where he rose to station commander and stayed until 1990.

He was an active member of the East Preston and Kingston Royal British Legion, holding the position of chairman and dying as the president of the organisation.

His funeral takes place on Wednesday, from 2pm, at St Mary’s Church, East Preston, where firefighters will form a guard of honour.

He leaves behind his wife, two grown-up children and five grandchildren.