Dr John Farrer, of Ingleborough Estate at Clapham, has died at the age of 92.

Dr Farrer died at 8.12am on New Year’s morning, 60 years after he left Australia with his late wife Joan, to run the 15,000 acre estate.

His son, John, who has been in Clapham since November having travelled from his home in Canada, said: “We came to celebrate the 60th anniversary of my father taking over the estate.

“He became ill and we were unable to do that but he had wonderful care both by the district nurse and privately.”

A private funeral service for family and close friends will be held at Lancaster Crematorium tomorrow at 5pm and a thanksgiving service will be held on a date yet to be determined at St James’ Church, Clapham, where he was a churchwarden for more than 50 years.

His wife, Joan, died in 2008.