A 105-year-old man who only gave up working as a pub gardener last year has died just weeks short of his next birthday.

Jim Webber, a lifelong resident of Stoke Abbott, passed away peacefully at Broadwindsor House residential home on Sunday after battling cancer.

The retired farmer and keen gardener became a national celebrity since the story of him and his younger brother Jack a decade ago for still working in their 90s.

Jack died in 2006, but Jim carried on working up until the end of his 104th year by tending the garden at the New Inn pub, Stoke Abbott, a job he had done for 20 years.

He was very popular in the village, opening events such as its winter games.

His daughter Kathy said that he was a perfectionist to the last: “Shortly after he arrived at Broadwindsor House last month, they were pushing him around the garden in his wheelchair one day when it was sunny and he was a bit cheeky and told them the lawn needed mowing.

“They said: ‘Perhaps we will see if we can get a ride-on so you can do it Jim.’”

Mr Webber had stayed fit and healthy all his life and had never taken a holiday.

Miss Webber put his strong constitution down to his lifestyle, saying on his 105th birthday: “It is plenty of exercise and fresh air and fresh fruit and veg from our own garden.”

He also swore by his nightly tonic of a drop of whisky in hot water with milk and sugar.

Mr Webber lived with his daughter until being admitted to the Dorset County Hospital in September, following diagnosis of cancer of the oesophagus in the spring.

After his spell in Dorchester, he was transferred to Bridport Hospital before coming to Broadwindsor House.

Miss Webber added: “After knowing he had cancer it was a battle to fight it. He had been ill for a long time, but had not been bed-ridden or not knowing people or things like that.

“When he got to Broadwindsor House he seemed to pick up a bit and had plenty of company and the staff were so good to him.”

As well as his daughter, Mr Webber leaves a son, George, daughter-in-law Sylvia, grand daughters Sheila and Vanessa, and great-grand children Daniel, Emily and Emma.

Miss Webber added: “Obviously we are upset to lose him, but he was a great age and fought through life very courageously.

“It was just a shame he could not have lived a bit longer to see his 106th birthday.”

n Mr Webber’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church, Stoke Abbott, next Wednesday, December 10, at 2pm. Family flowers only are requested but donations for Cancer Research UK and Broadwindsor House can be sent c/o A J Wakely & Sons, 7 North Street, Beaminster.