A Second World War veteran and OBE recipient who was at the heart of community life will be sorely missed.

Lewis Golden, from Petworth, died on October 27, aged 94. His funeral took place in London but his family intend to hold a memorial service in the town, likely to be held in the new year.

Lewis moved from London to Pallingham Manor Farm, between Wisborough Green and Petworth, in 1976 with his wife Jacqueline Frances, who he married in 1953 after they met at West London Synagogue.

The restoration of their country home won the first major West Sussex County Council conservation award in 1978 and in 1994 the couple moved into Petworth town.

Among his many services to the local community he was chairman of the Petworth Festival, with both of them eventually serving as vice presidents of the group. Jacqueline passed away in 2005.

He was also a trustee of The Chichester Cathedral Millenium Endowment Trust, a Wisborough Green parish councillor, trustee of Petworth Cottage Trust which established the town’s museum, chairman of the Petworth Cottage Nursing Home silver jubilee appeal aiming to raise money for the home’s betterment, chairman of Petworth Millenium Map committee, trustee of Friends of St Mary’s Church and president of the town and district branch of the Royal British Legion.

Born in Ealing, west London, in 1922, Lewis had a varied career, first training as an accountant after having started his studies by correspondence course while serving with the army in India.

As a soldier who experienced many key operations in the Second World War, he joined up with the Royal Signals’ First Airborne Division and qualified as a paratrooper.

He fought with the First Parachute Brigade in the invasion of North Africa in November 1941 and the invasion of Sicily in July 1943.

In September that year, Lewis served as signals officer with the First Airlanding Light Regiment for the invasion of Italy and with the First Airborne Division for the operation at Arnhem in 1944.

He qualified as an accountant in London in 1947, before going on to set up his own firm, Lewis Golden and Co, three years later.

His next venture, Everest Double Glazing, was started with his friend and colleague at his accountancy firm, solicitor Sydney Manches.

In the 1978 Birthday Honours, Lewis was awarded an OBE for his services to the London Library.

Lewis published his book Echoes from Arnhem in 1984, a dramatic account of his experiences in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Arnhem.

Lewis met his second partner, Tishie Burr, in 2008.

He is survived by Tishie and his children, David, Deborah, Sara and Jonathan.

He also has ten grandchildren.

Paying tribute, the Petworth Festival team said: "The Festival board and staff wish to record our condolences to the family of the Festival’s Vice President Lewis Golden who died in October.

"Lewis gave many years of extraordinary service to the Festival and to the wider Petworth community as well as generously sponsoring performances over many years and he will be much missed by us all."