Portrait a perfect memorial gift - 24/07/09

A portrait of the world`s oldest former soldier will make a perfect memorial gift to commemorate the fallen of the First World War.

Henry Allingham was aged 113 when he died at St Dunstan's care home for blind ex-servicemen in Ovingdean, near Brighton, East Sussex.

His death prompted tributes, from the Queen, the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a host of admirers from around the world.

A painting by Dan Llywelyn Hall showing the veteran in pensive mood dressed in a white shirt and cravat will go on show at a gallery in Covent Garden, central London, in November.

It will then be put up for sale, with proceeds going to St Dunstan's. A public funeral with full military honours will be held next Thursday at St Nicholas Church in Brighton.

Says Mr Llywelyn Hall: "I felt I had a duty to portray an image which would be a memento. Throughout the sitting, he was cheerful and singing along, he was a very amusing bloke."

Portrait a perfect memorial gift - 24/07/09

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