SYMON James Crouch, or Crouchie as he was known, died on May 8 at Bath’s Royal United Hospital aged 52.

Mr Crouch was born in Bath on December 7, 1963 to Pete and Pat Crouch (nee Withers). He was the older brother of Maria and Julian, and went to St Phillips CoE and then Beechen Cliff Secondary in Bath.

Here his love of sport, as well as his prodigious sporting talent, shone through, collecting colours in gymnastics, cricket, basketball, swimming, athletics and rugby.

After leaving school he joined the civil service, working for the Ministry of Defence – a job he was proud to pursue and one that he stayed in for the rest of his career.

He married childhood sweetheart Sarah Jordan in the late 1980s and had two children, Natalie, 26, and Emily, 25. The couple divorced in the mid 1990s.

In 1994, at a Christmas work do, he was introduced to his future wife, Carole Boyne-Aitken, who was trying to find someone who could sing, and he did not disappoint, as he belted out ‘The Wonder of You’.

The couple married in 1999 at Trowbridge registry office, with his daughters and her niece as bridesmaids.

Outside of work, Mr Crouch's true passion of Mr Crouch, who settled in Frome from the mid 1990s onwards, was rugby. From school he went on to play for Old Sulian’s RFC in Bath and then, after moving to Frome in the mid 1990s, Frome RFC.

According to Mrs Crouch, who was born in Trowbridge, his claim to fame was keeping Jeremy Guscott out of the Somerset 7s in the 1990s.

“He was in love with the sport ever since he turned 11. I loved to watch him play, although I was sent off from the touchline sometimes for my antics,” said Mrs Crouch.

His favourite get-away was Menorca – the first place he took his daughters on holiday.

“I am very proud of my husband, He was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother and friend,” said Mrs Crouch.

“He was the heart and sole of the party. Everyone who knew him loved him. He was a gentle giant. He was always funny, always laughing – he was there for everyone.”

Mr Crouch’s funeral will take place at St John’s Church, Frome, on May 25 from 11am. Donations can be made to the Stroke Association and Frome RFC