A resident of Surbiton’s Royal Star and Garter home, believed to be the 49th oldest person in the country, has died aged 108.

Jack Ovens, known for his lifelong love of horses, first served in the Army nearly 90 years ago.

Born in Teddington in 1906, Mr Ovens served in the Royal Dragoons from 1926 to 1932, rising from Trooper to attain the rank of Corporal of Horse.

He eventually oversaw 43 Army horses.

In 1929, he was posted to Secunderabad, India, and often recalled being impressed by the uniformed private armies of the Nizam of Hyderabad, as well as other wealthy maharajas of the time.

He was subsequently recalled to the Army during World War II, retraining as a tank driver and serving in Egypt and then Italy.

Mr Ovens was a resident of the Royal Star and Garter from August 2012 until his death on New Year’s Eve.

On his birthday last year, the home organised a party while one of the volunteers brought their own horse to the home in Upper Brighton Road.

The next day Mr Ovens visited Imber Court in East Molesey to meet some of the Metropolitan Police’s horses.

A Royal Star and Garter spokesman said: “He will be greatly missed by his family, and by staff and residents of the Royal Star and Garter Homes.”