PROFESSIONAL golfer Gary Sawyer, who worked at a golf centre in Corsham for more than decade, has been remembered by friends and colleagues following his death after being hit by a train.

The 48-year-old, who lived in Westbury with his wife Joanna and two children, was killed instantly after being hit by a train near Codford in the early hours of the morning on October 28.

Mr Sawyer turned professional in 1992, joining the PGA tour and winning several West Region PGA Pro-Am events over the years.

Tony Valentine, owner of the Tony Valentine Golf Centre in Corsham where Mr Sawyer worked since 2004, said: “He was my manager at the store in Corsham, basically my right-hand man who looked after the day-to-day running of the store.

“He was always very keen at golf and we do teaching so he had his own group of people he used to take out.

“Like everybody it came as a shock when we found out, we’re still getting over it and I know the family are in deep shock.”

As well as working in Corsham, Mr Sawyer was also a member of West Wilts Golf Club in Warminster.

Secretary of the West Wilts Golf Club, Geoff Morgan, said: “He was a member here about four or five years ago and played most of his golf here.

“I also believe he was a junior here and worked in the pro shop in the 70s and 80s.

“I had the greatest of respect for him and I can’t really praise him enough.

“I was really shocked to hear about the news of his death.

“He was an extremely quiet and modest person and was relatively shy.

“I never had the pleasure of playing with him but he was a good player who was very highly respected in the world of golf.”

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “Gary Sawyer was reported missing to us on October 27.

“However, despite a police search, his body was discovered by the side of the train line near Codford just hours later, in the early hours of October 28.

“His death is not being treated as suspicious and the case has been handed over to the coroner.”

An inquest was opened and adjourned on November 9 and his funeral took place today (Wednesday, November 18).