A SERVICE of thanksgiving will be held in Lyme Regis to celebrate the life of war veteran Ralph Kelly.

Mr Kelly died aged 97 at noon on Saturday at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, after a short illness.

The nonagenarian was taken from Lyme Regis Nursing Home, where he recently became a resident, and passed away with his family around him.

Mr Kelly is probably best known in the town for getting about with Audrey, his wife of 70 years, on their mobility scooters, which they would dress up to the nines every year for Lyme Regis Carnival.

He was also well known for writing poems and had his first one published at the age of 80.

Romantic Mr Kelly would often leave love notes for his wife around their home in Gosling Close, Mill Green.

He penned a special poem to mark their 70th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated with a family party in February.

His full name was Ralph Osmond Kelly, so he affectionately became known as Rocky because of his initials.

Mr Kelly’s legacy lives on at Lyme Regis Bowls Club, of which he was a member for many years, and where he presented the Rocky Cup, which is still a coveted prize to win.

He was born on December 30, 1912 in Battersea, South West London and came from a large family of Irish extraction, the seventh of seven children.

He met wife Audrey in the 1930s on the Isle of Sheppey when he went there on his motorbike with his friends.

They were friends for several years before getting married on February 23, 1940 in North London, just months after the Second World War broke out.

Mr Kelly was a surveyor and entered the RAF in 1942, repairing damage wherever it occurred and building airfields and airstrips, firstly in southern England and after D-Day in Northern Europe right into Germany.

He was demobbed in 1946 because his skills were required to work as a surveyor for the London Council rebuilding damaged houses.

Mr and Mrs Kelly’s first daughter Tricia – who now lives in Canada – was born in 1944 followed by Joy in 1947.

Mr Kelly then became a senior surveyor for Isleworth Brewery, where he worked until retirement in 1977.

They lived in Epsom for 30 years before moving to Lyme Regis 27 years ago.

Mr Kelly was composing poetry until the very end and some of his work is exhibited at Lyme Regis Library at the moment.

Daughter Joy said: “Dad was such a talented man. He was gregarious, convivial and thoughtful. He loved people and his poetry, but most of all he loved our mother Audrey. He was the best father anyone could have.”

Mr Kelly had four grandsons, one of whom died, and four great grandchildren. A service of thanksgiving for the life of Mr Kelly will be held at 2pm in Lyme Regis Baptist Church on Wednesday, October 13.