Thomas Henry Davies, January 30, 1930 - February 2, 2009

A grandfather who spent almost all his life in the same Fulham house has died aged 79.

Thomas Henry Davies' first home was in Bovingdon Street, Fulham. His family moved to Studdridge Street when he was six months old and he lived there until recently before going into a hospice.

"Everyone who met him remembered him," said his widow, Mona Davies, 65, of Studdridge Street, who gave up work three years ago to be a full-time nurse to her husband after he collapsed with lung cancer.

"He was just always there. Regardless of where we went, he was always there. People respected him quite a lot and he adored his grandchildren," she said.

His daughter-in-law, Alex Davies, 32, of Melksham, Wiltshire, said: "He was very dry-witted and the grandchildren really brought out his sense of humour."

Mr Davies had attended Peterborough Primary School in Clancarty Road, Fulham, which closed last year.

He went on to college in Chelsea and took his first job at the age of 14 as a milkman with a round near Wandsworth Bridge Road, Fulham.

During the Second World War Mr Thomas was called up for national service and spent several years in Singapore in the Pay Corps before returning to the UK.

When he was 30 he took a job as a civil servant for local government in Wimbledon and in 1966 married Mona at St Stephen's Church in Upper Richmond Road, Putney. The couple had four boys, Anthony, George and twins Paul and Colin.

Mrs Davies described her late husband as a very reserved, placid man who liked playing darts at the Cedar Tree pub in Putney Bridge Road, Putney.

"We had lots of happy memories. I will have to find a new life for myself now he has gone," she added.

Mr Davies was also a regular of the Wandsworth Constitutional Club in St Ann's Crescent, Wandsworth and had four grandsons.

After Mr Davies became too ill to walk outdoors, his wife took him in a wheelchair to South Park in Peterborough Road, Fulham every day to make sure he had a change of scene.

He died of lung cancer in Trinity Hospice, Clapham Common, last month. His funeral was held on February 21 in Putney Vale Crematorium in Stag Lane, Putney and attended by 120 people.