TRIBUTES have been paid to an 'extraordinary' consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Hampshire's Dr Alexander 'Sandy' Burnfield was also deeply involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Society, both in the UK and internationally, having been diagnosed with a form of the disease many years ago.

Despite his various challenges, Sandy was also a successful breeder of Paso Fino horses, a farmer, a druid, a poet, a husband and father, an author and a raconteur with the widest social reach.

He was president of the Winchester and Andover branches of the MS Society, chaired the University of Southampton’s MS Survey Advisory Group, had several books published and was an occasional contributor to TV and radio as well as medical advisor on the film Duet For One.

Sandy was a founding trustee of Southampton based charity-owned children's services provider Fair Ways.

CEO Mac McHugh told the Daily Echo: "Sandy was an extraordinary man. We met him in Southampton in 2004 and he shared our vision of a hub approach to providing child centred therapeutic support - and specifically the need to link the individual’s thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours in order to understand the underlying reasons behind any presenting attitudes. Today, these skills and principles remain at the core of our therapeutic ethos at Fair Ways.

Over the years Sandy passed on his wisdom in many different ways to the Fair Ways staff. He trained our foster carers, gave 1:1 supervision to some senior staff as well as providing counselling to many individuals at all levels in the organisation through difficult times. He was a guiding inspiration and will be fondly remembered for his wit, good humour and outstanding intellect.

"We fondly recall day trips to his home and his unusual and unconventional but brilliant teaching when imparting his skills and wisdom to our staff."

Sandy leaves his wife Penny, two daughters, grandchildren and great grand children.