A memorial service has been held at St Mary’s Church, Walmer for Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club president Jack Aisher, who died in November.

Eulogies were given by author and golf commentator Peter Alliss and Air Vice-Marshal Tim Lloyd, a past captain of the Cinque Ports Golf Club.

The service was conducted by the Rev Bruce Hawkins, former vicar of Walmer, and attended by about 300 people.

Peter and Jack Aisher, Mr Aisher’s great grandchildren, sang A Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter.

Deal Mayor Cllr Bill Gardner and former Deal Mayor Cllr Deryk Murray were at the service, as well as many golf club friends from the Cinque Ports Golf Club and Royal St George’s Golf Club at Sandwich, former work colleagues and representatives from Sevenoaks School, where Mr Aisher had been a governor.

The private family funeral was held in November and Mr Aisher died aged 98 at his home in Walmer. He leaves a widow Maureeen, two sons Trevor and Michael, eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Mr Aisher joined Cinque Ports in 1947, becoming a full member in 1958 and captain in 1962. He was club president for 40 years.

His first experiences of golf on Kent’s east coast came during the 1934 Open Championships at Royal St George’s, Sandwich, when he watched every shot of Henry Cotton’s then-record score of 65 in the second round.

The following year he played at Deal for the first time but was ineligible to become a member since, as a tile maker, he was ‘in trade’, a restriction relaxed 10 years later.

Part of his responsibilities at the Marley Tile company was to set up overseas offices around the world and his golfing contacts proved invaluable.

A four-handicapper at his best, Mr Aisher continued to play until his mid-90s.