Bradford bowler Trevor Malcolm Ward died suddenly at Bradford on Avon Bowls Club on February 17, aged 82.

Mr Ward, known to his friends as Trev, was born on August 29, 1932 and was the youngest of three children, having an older brother and sister.

He moved to the town in 1977 to open a sheet metal factory with his business partner, having been born and raised in Berkshire.

Mr Ward met his wife Alison while she worked at FAWT Engineering as an accountant in 1981 and they married in Trowbridge in 1988.

For the past 26 years he had been a member of the Bradford on Avon Bowls Club with his wife, where they shared many fond memories.

Sticking to his DIY hobbies, he put them to good use, particularly at the Bowls Club and he was known to not go anywhere without his screwdriver.

He was found dead at the club, where it is understood he had been doing some maintenance work.

Mr Ward had numerous roles within the club including a skipper and he was a regular weekly player.

Club secretary Derrick Hunt said: “We will genuinely miss Trevor for his cheerful attitude and for his major contributions to the club both on and off the pitch for the last 26 years.

“He was a main character at the club not just on the green. He was our maintenance man for many years and he was also the man behind the bar.

“He was known as a very cheerful chap and that was contagious. His approach to every game was the same – to just enjoy it.

“Trevor had built up very strong friendships with people at the club over the years and many will be at the service.”

Mr Ward was also a keen sailor and played the drums, having been in a band when he was younger.

When his grandchildren were born he made sure that he would spend plenty of time with them, often saying that playing with them helped keep him young. He leaves his wife Alison, his son Steve and daughter Sarah, and grandchildren Sophie, Lilly, Amy and Erin.

His funeral will be held at the West Wiltshire Crematorium at Semington on Wednesday (March 4) at 11.30am. Family flowers only, with donations in his memory going towards an ongoing project to install a defibrillator for Bradford on Avon Bowls Club.