ONLY a few weeks after learning that he and his wife Florence were officially the world's longest living married couple, one of Hereford's oldest residents, Percy Arrowsmith, has died.

Percy, who turned 105 last March, died peacefully at the Breinton Road home he had shared with Florence for almost 80 years.

The Bishop of Hereford, the Right Rev Anthony Priddis, who visited the couple on their 80th wedding anniversary three weeks ago, said he was very sorry to hear about Percy's death so soon after their big day.

"Percy and Flo were very happy when I saw them on their anniversary," said the bishop. "They were still very much in love with each other. They have been churchgoers all their life and I am sure the family will find comfort in their Christian faith. We will all be praying for Flo and the family in their grief."

Music played a large part in Percy's life - he and Flo were founder members in 1948 of Hereford's Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society, where president Geoff Rawcliffe said: "He loved his music and in his younger days took part in concerts. He will be missed by all those in the organisation who knew him."

He was a stalwart of the Three Choirs Festival and sang many times under the baton of Sir Edward Elgar, including the composer's final Dream of Gerontius performance in 1933 at Hereford.

Percy later recalled how the majestic figure of Sir Edward stood transported with emotion, his eyes filled with tears.

Other greats under whose direction Percy sang included Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst and Zoltan Kodaly.

In his working life, Percy was employed for over 50 years with Hereford firm of solicitors Humfrys and Symonds.

The chairman of Herefordshire Council and long-standing friend of Percy's, Councillor John Edwards, added his voice to the tributes.

"Flo and Percy put Here-fordshire on the map both in this country and abroad - their 80th wedding anniversary made headlines around the world," he said.

The funeral took place on Tuesday at St Nicholas Church, led by the Rev Rob North, team rector of the West Hereford ministry team.

"It was a celebration of Percy's long and happy life," said Mr North. "He had a good life which he had got the most out of. His going was peaceful, in his own home with his wife nearby, in his own armchair."