The widow of a man who died in the Dignitas suicide clinic has spoken movingly of his last hours, in a bid to set up a similar centre in Britain.

Tony Clements, a retired Royal Engineers major, lived in Wilkinson Drive in the former Sergeant’s Mess, in Canada Road, Walmer, until 2009 before he succumbed to Parkinson’s disease.

He flew to the controversial Swiss clinic to die by lethal injection on August 25, just two months after his silver wedding anniversary.

His widow Michelle, 47, spoke to the Mercury this week before flying back to the South of France where the couple moved in 2009. She said: "We ordered information from Dignitas five years ago, and I kept it in a sealed envelope in case we ever needed it.

"A change in Tony’s medication this year sapped the life out of him. He had always been a very active person – he loved windsurfing, sailing and tennis – and he said, ‘We have to speed this up’."

One month on from his death, she wants to legalise assisted suicide in the UK, but she said she will think about her next step.

She recalled the day of his death.

"At 10.30am we were ready with the wheelchair and two nice ladies walked with us to the little house.

He said: ‘The sun’s shining – how perfect.’ They asked if we wanted some time together, and he said no.

"After a lot of paperwork, we said goodbye. He told me he adored me, and he pushed the button. Within half a minute he was fast asleep, snoring at first, then the breathing became shallower.

"I sat in the garden afterwards and they made me a cup of tea while we waited for the police. They asked me lots of questions but were very kind. They come to that house every day."

Mr Clements, 69, had already been diagnosed when he met his wife-to-be in Germany in 1982.

They moved to Inner Lines, Brompton and were married at the Garrison Church - where a memorial service will be held with hymns and readings chosen by him.

He served in Germany and the Middle East and rose to become a major before being medically discharged in 1991.

They moved to Deal in 2004. She said: We loved Deal. We loved the sea. He was still quite good when he lived there.

The Dignitas trip cost £10,000, which they could only afford thanks to a donation from Mrs Clement's mother.

She added: "We were very lucky to afford it, many can't.

"People oppose it but anyone who hasn't been there and held their loved one's hand, I won't accept what they say."

To read the full story, see this week's East Kent Mercury.