Popular Melksham farmer and horse racing fanatic Richard Stainer has died, aged 70.

More than 400 people turned out to celebrate Mr Stainer’s life last Thursday at St Michael and All Angels Church in Melksham.

Known to his friends as Dick, Mr Stainer was born at Beanacre Farm, the home of his grandparents, on August, 18, 1944 and went to Trowbridge Boy’s High School.

Most of his early years were spent at Snarlton Farm in Melksham with his brother John and sister Jill, and then at Bowerhill Lodge Farm where the family ran a dairy farming business.

He was also an active member of Melksham Young Farmers Club where he served as both secretary and chairman. Sport played a big part in Mr Stainer’s life, and led him to make many long standing friends.

His first marriage, to Marilyn in 1971, gave him four children, Alison, Caroline, Tom and James. His passion for horse racing led him to meet his second wife Carol Stainer in 1995, and they travelled to New Zealand together in 1996 and got married later that year, going on to have two children, Sophia and Emily. He also leaves grandchildren Charlie, Jessica and Millie.

The couple lived in Top Lane, Whitley and he was a frequent visitor to The Pear Tree before its recent closure. He spent his last months in Bybrook House nursing home in Box after fighting a two-year battle with cancer.

Tim Church, Mr Stainer’s brother-in-law, said: “Looking back on his life you could say that at times he was a bit of a handful, but what a lot of fun he was.”