A woman paid tribute to a ‘kind, caring gentleman’ she knew as her ‘adopted’ uncle.

Dentist, photographer and community member Ernest Harold Cole, of Parkfield Avenue, Harrow Weald, died on January 20 aged 94.

Born in March 14, 1920, he lived in Leghorn Road, Harlesden, for 31 years, before moving to Harrow in 1952.

Leader of the Boys Brigade for 50 years and an active member of the Cricklewood Baptist Church as Secretary, Treasurer, Deacon and Elder for over 50 years, he was even known to have made a brick wall himself outside the church just after the war.

During the war he was a warden in the rescue service and was trained in air raid precautions in Willesden Corp, and his account was published in The Times at the anniversary of The Blitz in 2010.

Ernie, as he was known, trained as a dental mechanic at aged 14 and went on to have his own business in dentistry and was also employed until 1969 at The Book Centre, Neasden, as Computer Supervisor on one of the first computers in England.

After joining Dixons Photographic Ltd in Edgware, he started his own photographic business with his own dark room at home, from which he despatched his prints to relatives of the serving men around the world.

He looked after his mother, aunt and brother at home until they died and helped his neighbour Italia Cross, a widow, for more than 30 years until her death.

He never married although admitted to having "come close" at times and had no children, but is remembered by his "adopted" niece Patricia Thomas, daughter of his neighbour Mrs Cross.