An organist who played at church services in the district for 75 years has died.

George McGowan, who retired from playing at churches in Epping and Epping Green aged 91 last year, died on Monday.

He was born in Epping Green and attended Epping Green Chapel from the age of three, when his mother enrolled him into the Sunday school there.

He picked up hymns there and started playing the piano when he was eight, practicing for 45 minutes a day.

He started playing the organ aged 16 in 1938 at Epping Congregational Church, now the United Reformed Church in Lindsey Street.

The nurseryman, who started his working life in the glass houses of Roydon, growing tomatoes and cucumbers, met his wife Doris at the church.

They were married for 45 years, until her death 16 years ago, and had three children, Margaret, now 60, David, 58 and John, 57.

John, who lives in Queens Road, North Weald, with his wife Tracey, said: “He was a good dad and worked very hard for his family.

“He loved family life and meeting new people.”

Mr McGowan and his wife were heavily involved in Epping Green Chapel, where he was honoured at its 150th anniversary celebrations last year.

The minister there, the Rev Paul Walker, 56, said: “George was a church elder and pillar of both the church and the local community.

“He and Doris faithfully served the Lord for decades at the chapel, steering it through very lean times in the 1960s.

“The thriving congregation of today salutes and gives thanks for a humble, wise and faithful man.

“He is a local legend.”

He worked in the grounds of Theydon Grove House until he was called up to serve in the army during the Second World War, when he was posted to Jhansi in India.

His skills on the organ were used as he played in the Methodist chapel at the army headquarters there.

He started playing the organ at Epping Green Chapel in 1965 and was living just yards from the cottage where he was born in May 1921, which had no running water while he was growing up.

As well as his children, he also leaves seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The date of his funeral is yet to be arranged.