MR Gordon Beck, former landlord of the Snooty Fox in Warminster, The George in Longbridge Deverill and the Fox and Hounds in East Knoyle, died in France on April 4. He was 47.

He was taken ill while on holiday with his wife and daughter and had been in intensive care in Caen for eight weeks. Mr Beck and his wife, Felicity, of Deverill Road, Sutton Veny, took over The Globe in Warminster in 1988 and refurbished it, reopening under the name The Snooty Fox.

The two continued running pubs together for 13 years before Mrs Beck retrained as a teacher and began working at Warminster School. Mr Beck had recently been working as a wedding chauffeur and Mrs Beck said: "He loved using his ability to put people at ease in tense situations.

" Mr Beck ran the catering in their pubs and Mrs Beck said: "Gordon put the same care into catering whether it be for a wedding for 200, a children's birthday party or Sunday lunch for his family. We are going to miss him so much."

Mr Beck was also very active in fundraising for The Rose children's charity, holding BBQs and fun days to raise money. A service of thanksgiving was held on Monday at St Denys The Minster Church and Gabriel Gottlieb, a music teacher from Warminster School, sang some of Mr Beck's favourite jazz songs.

Mr and Mrs Beck's daughter, Alex, 12, created a collage of photographs and a memory book for people to write anecdotes in, and the family would like to hear from anyone who has any stories about Mr Beck.