TRIBUTES have been paid to father-of-three Owen Lewis, who was found dead in his Melksham flat on Friday.

Mr Lewis, 41, a keen cricketer, was a former secretary of Beanacre Cricket Club and also coached its youngsters.

The former George Ward School pupil was born in Harare, in Zimbabwe, before moving to Melksham in 1983.

After school he joined the Army and served for nine years, mostly based in Germany.

Mr Lewis’ ex-wife Anne, still lives in Melksham. The couple were married for over 20 years and had three children, Chloe, 16, Rhys, 13, and Megan, five. Mr Lewis’ current partner Karen Cox, 44, who also lives in Melksham, said she met Mr Lewis while working behind the bar in the town’s Liberal Club in Bank Street around two years ago.

He also leaves a sister, Carol, 44, and two half-brothers from his father’s first marriage, Richard, 52, and Charles, 50.