A gregarious and popular man recognisable for being on his mobility scooter with two black labradors in tow has died this week.

Ben Goodden was born in 1925, moving to Twickenham riverside in 1975, where he loved to walk his two black labradors through Marble Hill Park.

In later years, the 87-year-old was best known for travelling through the park on his scooter, getting caught up in conversation – often turning a quick dog walk into a three hour outing.

His wife Rose Goodden said: “He was a well-known, familiar figure riding round Marble Hill Park and he was seen going through Twickenham.”

He attended Harrow School, going on to fight in World War Two in India in 1944, after joining the British Army in 1943. After leaving the Army, he read law at Oxford University as part of a six month military training course.

He received an Inner Temple scholarship in 1951 and was called to the bar in 1954. He then became a partner in a stock broking firm, which he left in 1971. In 1972 he became the director of M&G Securities and moved to Twickenham in 1975. He retired in 1999, working well into his 70s.

He devoted the rest of his life to his wife and their two dogs, at first two black labradors Sally and Amy and later on two blonde labradors, Poppy and Reggie.

In his spare time he loved to listen to choral music, and was a member of the Bach Choir.

He was a cricket fanatic, which showed in his membership to the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club at Lords and as a Lords taverner. He was also an expert on author PG Wodehouse.

His youngest son, Tim Goodden, 32, said: “He had an utterly eccentric sense of humour. He was extremely charming and highly intelligent. He had the gift of the gab.”

Mr Goodden leaves behind four children, three step-children, 23 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Mr Goodden died on January 15, and his funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church, in Church Street, Twickenham, at 2.30pm on Friday, January 25.