A COMMUNITY stalwart and "true hero" has been remembered for leaving his mark on the village of Nomansland.

Alwyn Lewis died on March 19 and was 86-years-old.

He dedicated his retirement to improving the quality of life of others, particularly the residents of Nomansland and Landford. Following a career in finance with the Prudential he moved to Nomansland in the mid 1990s where he immediately settled into the many aspects of village life.

A large part of which was devoted to the Whiteparish and Landford Link Scheme where he experienced roles as a driver, coordinator and chairman.

Alwyn could regularly be seen driving his "quite large limousine" around the village taking members of the public, in some luxury, to one of these services.

The link scheme was not his only voluntary activity, he annually provided a promotional display at Nomansland Summer Fayre. He was also a member of the committee that refurbished Nomansland War Memorial (Well of Sacrifice) for the Millennium.

Two years later he served on the committee to celebrate Nomansland’s Bicentenary and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. He also annually arranged a team of volunteers for the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal and was a member of the Reading Room Management Committee.

Alwyn enjoyed nothing more than relaxing with a good book and was regularly seen collecting his reading material from the mobile library which stopped opposite the Lamb Inn. He often liked to help cook lunch for the family and in his early days could be seen taking long walks in the New Forest with his wife Anne.

Alwyn was still active to the end and regularly played short mat bowls at Landford Village Hall and FEA Wordplay at Nomansland Reading Room.

A tribute from Nomansland Reading Room Management Committee said: "Alwyn has left his indelible mark on the village and will be greatly missed by all those who were fortunate to meet him. He engrossed himself into all aspects of the village and was adored by many, particularly the older members of the community. Our thoughts go out to Anne to whom he was married for nearly sixty years and his family. "We salute a man who was a true hero to many and thank him for his contribution to the evolving history of Nomansland – Again many thanks Alwyn."