Tributes have been made to a retired soldier from Trowbridge who died after suffering a heart attack while on a fishing trip in Dorset.

Clive Smith, known as Biffo, was a sergeant in the Royal Hampshire Regiment and served in the Army for 22 years.

The 53-year-old from Summer-down Walk, Trowbridge, was with his uncle on Hive Beach on September 26 and was retrieving his Royal Hampshire Regiment cap, which had been blown down the beach, when he collapsed and died.

He leaves his daughters Emma Plummer and Victoria Smith, his son Leigh, and his four grandchildren.

His family said: “He will be sadly missed. No matter what job you needed doing or what trouble you were in he would be there. If you ever needed to borrow something, he would have two of it. He was brilliant with the kids and always willing to help others. A lot of people appreciated him.”

His military career took him to Kenya, The Falklands, Germany and Northern Ireland and he had been given the role of regimental standard bearer.

He set up the Royal Hampshire Regimental Club, organising annual meeting for soldiers of all ranks. He attended as many funerals of ex-Royal Hampshire Regiment soldiers as possible with his standard flying to ensure they were “shown the proper respect”.

Mike Mulligan, of Bromham, served with Mr Smith for most of his career and said: “He was an all-round good guy and will be sadly missed. He was a linchpin between serving and retired soldiers and would do anything for anyone in the battalion.”

Twenty officers are expected at his funeral next Friday, along with seven ex-commanding officers and five brigadiers.

The service is on October 18 at West Wiltshire Crematorium, at 2.30pm. The family have requested no flowers but donations can be made to the Royal Hampshire Museum on 01962 863658 or at museum@ serleshouse.co.uk