Tributes to cancer victim, aged 27

8:27am Friday 18th January 2008

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HUNDREDS of people are due to attend the funeral of a west Wiltshire villager who has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 27.

Friends and family have paid tribute to James Henderson, of Dilton Marsh near Westbury, who died from cancer at Dorothy House in Winsley on Friday.

Up until he died, Mr Henderson, known to many as Jim, was an active member of his local community and a member of the Dilton Memorial Hall Committee, helping to raise nearly £20,000 when asbestos closed the village hall in March 2005.

His partner Nick Pearce, 53, is devastated by his death.

He said: "He was sweet, caring and loving.

"He, like me, loved his pub lunches and we would regularly have pub lunches together."

It was in July that Mr Henderson, who worked as a support officer at Erlestoke Prison near Devizes, discovered he had cancer.

Mr Henderson was a keen member of the Friends of Imber Church, and campaigned for its refurbishment.

Mr Pearce, a broadcaster who was born and bred in Dilton Marsh, said: "We used to open up the church and campaigned to get it transferred to the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT).

"Together with money from the Army the church was refurbished. The windows were also restored and Jim was part of that."

Brian Nowell, a member of the friends group, said: "He was a great help in everything that we did including fundraising. He was always willing to help.

"Everyone loved him. He was a pleasant, nice lad. It's a great pity; it's just not fair is it really?"

Mr Henderson also helped out with the scenery and lighting for the Dilton Players amateur dramatics group.

He was born in Larbert, Falkirk, and had a troubled childhood after his mum died when he was aged 11 and his sister Sharon died a short while after.

As well as a love for local projects, Mr Henderson was interested in computers and even helped teach the internet to the late Beatrice Smith, who was the headteacher of Dilton Marsh Infant School from 1964.

Mr Pearce has invited people from all over the county to the funeral at Dilton Marsh Parish Church on Tuesday January 22 at 11am.

Among those invited are several publicans who got to know Mr Henderson during the seven years he lived in Dilton Marsh.

Nicola Millard, who runs the Kicking Donkey pub in Brokerswood, Westbury, said "He was a lovely guy that just got on with everybody."

The funeral is strictly no flowers with donations to be made to Dorothy House instead.

Mr Henderson's aunt Betty and his uncle David from Falkirk have already kicked off donations with a contribution of £100.