Money is being raised to install a bench in tribute to a beloved historian.

Tony Larkin, affectionately dubbed 'Mr Gravesend' due to his local knowledge, died in January at the age of 79 with his funeral procession bringing the town to a standstill.

Now his family and friends want to mark his contribution to the town by placing the memorial in the promenade gardens beside the statue of his hero General Gordon — the Army officer who carried out extensive charity work in Gravesend.

In order to commission the fitting tribute £700 needs to be raised, with a JustGiving page set up to help do so.

Mr Larkin, of Constitution Hill, Gravesend, could often be found searching through the archives at Gravesend Library or helping out at St John The Evangelist Roman Catholic Church.

His niece Claire O'Neill, of the town's Laurel Avenue, said: "Tony did so much for the history of our town. We his family know how loved he was by the people of Gravesham and would like to make it possible that a fitting memorial be placed beside his beloved General Gordon."

So far more than £400 has been raised with local figures donating to the cause, including Mr Larkin's friend and Gravesham MP Adam Holloway who has given £100 to the cause.

Mr Larkin was born in London, nearly ended up in Canada or Australia, but was adopted and ended up devoting his life to studying the town's past.

He was placed in St Mary’s Convent School and Orphanage, in Leith Park Road, when he was an infant, making up one of the 250 boys who lived there, after his mother was considered too young to have a child.

Major John Herbert O’Neill, who could not have children due to injuries he suffered during the First World War, and his wife Elsie May took him on, after they had previously adopted Mr Larkin’s foster brother Alan O’Neill in 1951.

During a mass at Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Northfleet, the then vicar announced a boy who had no relatives was to leave the orphanage.

If no one was found Mr Larkin would have been sent aboard.

At the time of his death Mr O’Neill, 72, recounted "making very string representations" to his parents about wanting a brother.

During the mid to late 1950s, Mr Larkin served with the Royal Artillery and spent two-and-a-half years in Hong Kong as a medical orderly.

Upon being discharged he took up a position with Medway Water Board where he would take advantage of his position to gain access to historical monuments.

Mr Larkin was laid to rest in Gravesend Cemetery, Old Road West.

To donate to the appeal click here.