Funeral arrangements are underway for a Warminster man murdered on a paradise island in the Philippines by robbers who forced their way into his home and shot him.

Retired picture framer and restorer Charles Maxwell, 61, known as Charlie, was shot twice in the chest on Sunday, April 12 after gunmen raided his home in Ubay, on the paradise island of Bohol, where he lived with his 21-year-old Filipina girlfriend Charita del Rosario.

Mr Maxwell was starting a new life abroad after leaving the village of Longbridge Deverill last year.

Mr Maxwell’s ex-wife Jane Wells and his son Sean have been busy this week preparing for his cremation in the Philippines, as well as a memorial service to be held at The George Inn, Longbridge Deverill.

Ms Wells said: “The Foreign Office has been brilliant but it takes a long time to get things like funerals sorted in the Philippines.”

The family have had to transfer nearly £2,500, as well as provide three types of identification, to finalise plans for the cremation.

Sean, 41, of Alcock Crest, Warminster, is due to be fly out to the Philippines with Ms Wells’ son Steve today (Friday) to organise the cremation and bring home his ashes on Wednesday.

Ms Wells said: “The family don’t want them to leave their hotel because we don’t want them to take any chances.

“It has been very stressful. Sean is quite emotional.”

The family have been working hard to organise a memorial service for Mr Maxwell for when his ashes are brought back to Warminster, although a date has not yet been confirmed.

A ceremony is planned for The George Inn, where Mr Maxwell used to drink regularly.

Ms Wells said: “It will be a non-denomination ceremony and it will be unconventional because Charlie was unconventional.

“We are going to have stories and pictures from each of the groups in his life - such as the pub community, the art community and the Frome community - interspersed with music.”

Tina Turner’s hit song Simply The Best, the War of the Worlds, and music from Genesis will be played.

His ashes will then be transported on a Honda Gold Wing motorbike and trailer - a favourite of Mr Maxwell’s - down to Ladram Bay in Devon where his ashes will be scattered by his family the following day.

Ms Wells said: “We had been together a long time (more than 25 years) so we knew what each other wanted.

“Never in a million years did I think I would have to do his funeral.

“On the day he left the UK for the last time I cracked up because to me it felt he was dead, that I wasn’t going to see him again. And now I never will.

“I hope his funeral will give us closure.”