JOHN Loftus, one of Warminster’s most prominent businessmen and avid supporter of the local football team, has died the day after his 70th birthday.

The father-of-two died on August 24 in France, where he had a holiday home, after a short battle with cancer.

Jan Loftus, Mr Loftus’s youngest son, said: “He was easy to talk to, easy to approach and would go out of his way to help anyone that asked for it. He always wanted to help people.

“Wherever he lived he always got involved in the local football and when he moved to Warminster, naturally he became involved in the club.

“It was his drug of choice so to speak; Saturdays and Wednesdays were sacred to him.”

Born in Dundalk, Ireland, Mr Loftus moved to Luton in his teenage years with his parents, brother and three sisters.

He was spotted by Luton Town Football Club and began playing for them before a serious motorbike accident halted his career.

He joined the army and met his first wife, Solveig, when in Norway, before moving to Warminster and later setting up his own property company.

An avid football fan, he became secretary and treasurer at Warminster Town Football Club and also become a qualified referee, a role he held for 45 years.

Derek Graham, manager of Warminster Football Club, said: “I knew him for nearly 30 years through football and I always got on really well with him.

“He was a big part of the club and he was really passionate about football.

“We held a minute’s silence for him at the weekend before the game against Calne and everybody was very sad. We will miss him.”

Outside football, Mr Loftus enjoyed country music and presented on Warminster’s community radio station, WCR.

Barry Mole, station manager at WCR, said: “He was one of the kindest, most genuine people you could ever wish to meet.

"He had a no nonsense exterior, but if you got to know him he would do anything for anyone.

"If it wasn’t for him the radio station wouldn’t exist.

"He stepped up to the mark to keep us going when we were struggling financially, I just can’t praise the guy enough. We would never have got to this point if it were not for John’s input.”

His funeral will be held Friday at St George’s Church, Warminster, from 2pm. He leaves his

second wife, Sylviane, and two sons, Ingar and Jan.