A DEVOTED father has died suddenly at the age of 46, just two weeks before he was due to become a grandad for the first time.

Norman Garner, a well-known sporting and charity figure in the Ribble Valley, had been the steward at the Royal British Legion Club in Clitheroe for 22 years. He was taken ill at his home in Whalley Road.

His widow Susan said: "He was so looking forward to being a grandad. He would have been very proud.

"Clitheroe seemed to come to a standstill on the day he died," she added. "Many of our younger customers said they felt as if they had lost a dad."

Mr Garner became the youngest British Legion steward in the country when he took over the Clitheroe club with his wife at the age of 24. "It used to have mainly older customers, but we turned the club around, and we have regulars now from teenagers to someone in his 90s, " Mrs Garner said.

Mr Garner organised football, snooker and darts teams from his base in Whalley Road and was chairman of Clitheroe and District Pool League.

He worked extensively for charity and recently raised cash when he and his wife completed parachute jumps.

As Poppy Day organiser in Clitheroe he masterminded a 400 per cent rise in collections. And last November he was given the honour of reading the exhortation at the town's cenotaph.

Mr Garner is believed to have died of natural causes and a post mortem examination was due to be carried out yesterday.

He leaves widow Susan and children Matthew and Sarah.

The funeral service will take place at St James' Church, Clitheroe, at 10.30am on Friday, followed by interment at Clitheroe Cemetery. Arrangements are being made by Clitheroe Funeral Service.