A FORMER president of Trowbridge Football Club and a founder member of the West Wiltshire Conservative Club has died at the age of 82.

Dennis Hurst, formerly of Hilperton, died after a short illness on Sunday. Mr Hurst and his wife, Beryl, lived in Trowbridge for nearly 40 years but moved to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 2000 to be nearer to their daughter Paula Watson.

Mrs Watson said: "Their hearts and minds have always remained in Trowbridge." Mr Hurst was an active member of Trowbridge Town Football Club, and was approached to join the management committee of the old club due to his financial expertise.

He helped steer the club into becoming a limited company and went on to become its president. John Fitchen, current chairman of Trowbridge Town Football Club, said: "He was very supportive of the club and still received match day programmes from us up until last Saturday.

"He was a gentleman and a very honest man."

He and his wife were founding members of the West Wiltshire Conservative Club at Lovemead House and he was also a volunteer with DIAL UK, an information and advice service for disabled people based in Semington.

Graham Payne, chairman of Lovemead Conservative Club and a district councillor, said: "Dennis was a well respected member of the Conservative Club and was also treasurer for many years. "He was very fair and not demonstrative at all, and was a good friend and ally to have. "Every problem was approached with analysis and thought through to its solution. "He was a gentleman of the old sort."

Mr Hurst was one of the earliest commuters in Trowbridge, travelling to London each day from Chippenham, to his work at Consolidated Goldfields and later the Hanson Group, where he was a company secretary and board member until he retired at 63.

Born in 1923 and originally from Twickenham, he and Mrs Hurst were part of the same group of friends as teenagers at the church youth group and used to go on cycle rides together.

They married at the age of 21 and enjoyed 60 years together.

He joined the Royal Navy during the Second World War, did transatlantic crossings as well the Malta convoys and served in the Far East.

He is survived by his wife, daughter, grandchildren Ian, Hayley, Sarah, Helen and Daniel and great-grandchildren Naomi and Ewan.

The funeral will be held at the West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington, on Tuesday at 2.40pm.

Donations can be made to either Trowbridge Town Football Club or the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group.