A blue plaque has been put up in Easton Royal in tribute to the late Sir Henry Howard Bashford, the former honorary physician to King George VI, who lived in the village in retirement until his death in 1961.

Most villagers who knew him have died and the Easton Royal Heritage Group is trying to trace any members of his family.

Sir Henry, who was 81 when he died, lived at the White House on the main road through the village and he had three daughters and one son.

Liz Johnson from the heritage group said: “We are hoping that through the Gazette we may be able to trace them and let them know about the blue plaque.”

Sir Henry was knighted in 1938. He had been chief medical officer to the Post Office, the Treasury medical advisor from 1943-45 and was the honorary physician to King George VI from 1941-44.

After retiring to Easton Royal, where he lived for about 15 years, Sir Henry worked unceasingly for village welfare.

Mrs Johnson said: “He thought it was awful that the only place the children had to play was in the road so he donated the land for the recreation ground.”

Sir Henry served on the parish council and parochial church council and wrote guide books on Holy Trinity Church that are still in use today.