A widow has paid an emotional tribute to the popular man she adored.

Dennis Pearson, 90, died in Chase Farm Hospital in The Ridgeway after battling pneumonia and a heart bypass.

Friends and family poured into New Southgate Crematorium and Cemetery last week to pay their respects to Mr Pearson, who had been a member of Bush Hill Park Golf Club for 30 years.

His devoted wife of 60 years, 83-year-old Miar, said she “adored” her husband and hopes he will be remembered for being a sociable man who was the life and soul at parties.

The couple, who have a 53-year-old daughter together, are originally from Wales, but moved to Enfield 44 years ago for Mr Pearson’s work commitments as an engineer.

However, Mrs Pearson, who lives in Maplin Close in Grange Park, said it was not love at first sight when she met her husband at Hounslow Cricket and Sport Club at 23 years old.

She said: “He was being chased by a lot of women who wanted to get married and I was being chased by fellows wanting to get married, but neither of us wanted to get married then.

“He asked me to dance and he said ‘thank God that’s over' and I thought ‘that’s a good start.’

“We were engaged six months later and never looked back. I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”

She said she is thankful for having 60 "wonderful years" together, and wanted to thank staff at Chase Farm Hospital for taking such good care of her husband in the days before his death.