AS Denise Williams and Louise McArdle watched the sun set over the sea on a Malaysian beach, they were safe in the knowledge their father David was finally at rest.

The sisters had travelled almost half the world to fulfil his final wishes of having his ashes scattered in the place he had adopted as his second home.

The 68-year-old’s love affair with the country began in the 1960s when he served as a corporal in the Royal Signals Corps during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation.

It was his interest in stories surrounding the formidable Iban headhunters that would lead him to the front door of local policemen Michael Juan and his son Samson, known as Sam, and set in place the foundations of a lifelong friendship.

Sam had spotted a white man loitering suspiciously outside his home in Kampung Sungai Bedil and confronted him.

It turned out to be Mr McArdle, who had let curiosity get the better of him and could not help but take a closer look at a tribal Iban shield hanging outside.

Afterwards, the two men kept in touch and would often visit each other.

Mr McArdle would take ‘Papa’ Michael bottles of Vat 69 whisky, while his family held a new year celebration in June when the Juans came to visit.

Mrs Williams said: “My dad was very close to Michael and every time he was there, he’d go see him.

“He called him Papa. Dad and Sam would go out for drinks. He’d take Papa his Vat 69 whisky and dad only drank Tiger beer, so they’d always have plenty in stock for him.

“Sam always said there were so many seas and lands between them, but they were like brothers. He’d always send postcards and letters.”

Back in England, Mr McArdle’s last posting would bring him to Wood Farm Estate in Malvern.

From here, he left the forces and took up work at Metalbox before retraining as a prison officer. He worked at HMP Long Lartin, near Evesham, for a number of years, and later transferred to Deerbolt in Barnard Castle, County Durham.

While there, Mr McArdle and his wife Martha set up home and named their new home after his close friend, Sam Juan.

They would live there happily until he fell ill 18 months ago. He passed away on February 19 last year. It wasn’t until the reading of his will that his girls would discover that even in death, Mr McArdle’s connection with Malaysia was not yet over.

“We didn’t know about [dad wanting his ashes spread over there] until the will was read,” said Mrs Williams, aged 45, of Hardwicke Close, St John’s, Worcester.

“The year before he passed, he said he was going to pay for a nurse to take him over there. If he could have, he would have.”

Through the sale of her father’s home, Mrs Williams and her sister Louise were able to fulfil his last request.

The pair took his ashes out to Kuching in August, where a private memorial ceremony was held at St Thomas Anglican Cemetery and Mr McArdle’s remains were sprinkled around Michael’s tomb.

“It was an experience for us,” said Mrs Williams.

“The welcome for us was amazing. Everyone was so friendly – they did a party for us before we left.

“People knew of my dad and his connection to Kuching and Malaysia. He was an amazing person.”

Although her father has passed on, Mrs Williams is determined to ensure the link is continued.

She said: “The friendship goes on. As children, Sam and Sita were very much part of our lives. Dad and Sam had a lot in common – Sam had four girls, dad had three girls and both their first grandchildren were boys.

“I was very anxious going over to Malaysia but when we were stood there, we felt this warmth.

“We’ve all got a rose bush called a Scotsman to remember him by. We took a rose from each and had them sprinkled with his ashes.

“I remember standing by the sea with Louise and saying, ‘Thank you dad, you have brought us here’.

“I’m glad we have done it. It was a long time coming. I feel dad’s chapter is now closed.

“It’s where he wanted to be and it’s something we shall always treasure.”