Eddie was the oldest (though not the longest-dwelling) resident of Trinity Church Square. He turned 99 in October 2004. We are sad that he did not attain the last great goal that he had set himself - to reach the grand old age of 100 (we were already planning his party).

Eddie and his wife Madge came to No 27 in 1974. Madge died 23 years ago and from then on Eddie looked after himself in the flat. He explored London by bus and by foot, visited museums and art galleries and especially enjoyed cricket at the Oval. He became a well known figure as he took his daily walk around the Bermondsey area, sometimes collecting wood from building sites and skips for the open fire in his flat. He loved talking to people and was always interested in local news and events.

He loved to talk about his life: about his work at Bryant & May the matchmakers; about his time in the RAF during the war and, at the end of hostilities, his horror and dismay when he and his colleagues entered Belsen; how he and Madge loved to travel, often to France, where they stayed with friends and played lots of tennis - he was very proud of his skill!

The little paved garden of his flat was very pretty, south-facing and full of flowers. After Madge died this became one of Eddie's favourite spots. In good weather he would potter about there every day, sorting bulbs, pruning, weeding, tidying, keeping the bird bath filled and watching the visiting and nesting birds. Latterly, he enjoyed spotting the local foxes who climb the walls and he relished blocking up their escape routes.

Eddie remained fit well into his nineties although, at the age of 91, he caught chicken pox. At Guy's Hospital he was very proud to be told that he was the oldest patient ever to be treated there for this disease. Despite his increasing frailty, it was Eddie's wish to go on living in his flat and he managed this with the assistance of his Home Help and neighbours. Although his increasing deafness had its drawbacks for his upstairs neighbour, it also had advantages as she never needed a television, being able to listen to University Challenge, the news or Wimbledon tennis completely clearly; however, late night horror movies could be rather daunting!

Recently Eddie's health began to decline and, during a hospital stay, he died. We shall miss his forthright views and strong voice, his little kindnesses and his wartime memories.

Joyce Ellson, Helen Carstairs and Gillian Lewis