A THANKSGIVING service will take place at Loretto School Chapel in Musselburgh on Tuesday for the life of Musselburgh war veteran Dr Tom Renouf.

Dr Renouf passed away peacefully at home on June 27 at the age of 91 after a short illness, just five days after receiving his MBE in a bedside ceremony.

The thanksgiving service will take place at 11.30am. The family have requested no flowers, but a collection will be taken for charity. There will be a reception afterwards at Pinkie House.

Dr Renouf, who fought with the 51st Highlanders, helped organise numerous trips overseas for the Highland Division Veterans Association members to commemorate their bravery and received France’s highest military honour, the Legion d’Honneur, for his part in liberating French communities during the Second World War.

He fought in the Battle of Normandy and Battle of the Rhineland, sustaining serious injuries.

He was “overjoyed” at being awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June and dedicated the award to his fallen comrades.

Dr Renouf was a key figure at Musselburgh’s Remembrance Day ceremony each year.

In January, he launched an art exhibition at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. His portrait features in the display The Last of the Tide, a tribute to the men in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. The exhibition was commissioned by Prince Charles, following his attendance at the 70th anniversary commemoration in 2014.