FORMER publican and parish councillor Graham Booth, known affectionately as Wally, has died aged 65.

Mr Booth, who grew up in Filey, Yorkshire, was a former chairman of the planning committee of Roundway Parish Council and former landlord of the Clock Inn at Lydeway and the Southgate Inn, Devizes. 

He was also a former chairman of the Wiltshire branch of the Licensed Victuallers Association and a big supporter of Devizes Rugby Club.

He was known as a man who adored his family, had a wonderful sense of humour and enjoyed chatting to people from all walks of life. He was perfectly cut out for life as a pub landlord and was life and soul of any party.

His extrovert personality was also enjoyed by his many friends in the Hungarian town of Balatonfokajár where he renovated a home and the French ski resort of Megeve where his whole family enjoyed many holidays.

Tributes from his friends in both towns have been left on Facebook and a contingent from Hungary is expect at the funeral.

Mr Booth was taken ill on Thursday and died in Great Western Hospital in Swindon on Saturday from septicemia.

Mr Booth was born in 1950 in Yorkshire where he lived with his parents Marion and Bill and brother Ashley. When he was 14 he studied catering for two years in Scarborough and then moved to London to work in a number of hotels.

He later moved to The Mitre Hotel in Hampton Court, Surrey, where he met his wife Anne. The couple married at St Mary's Church, Walton, Surrey in 1971 and worked together at a hotel in Weybridge before moving to Wiltshire in 1972 to take over the Clock Inn.

Their first child Lizzy was born in 1974 followed by Emma Louise in 1976.

In 1978 they moved to the Southgate Inn and the family was completed by the birth of James in 1980.

He left the Southgate in 1984 but continued in the pub trade as a relief manager until he decided on a change of career in the early 1990s when he joined forces with a friend to set up building firm Satellite Construction.

Mr and Mrs Booth lived for a number of years at Moonrakers, Devizes but moved three years ago to St James Gardens.

In 2010 he was diagnosed with throat cancer but after undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy he returned to good health but decided to retire.

He kept himself busy by buying and renovating a house in Balatonfokajár and became well known at the local pub the Green Cat where his bike could often be seen parked outside.

He enjoyed spending time with all of his family including his seven grandchildren Ellis, Polly, Jayden, Marly, Harriet, Kyran and Maisie. He took up playing rugby after his move to Wiltshire and remained an avid fan of Devizes Rugby Club and supporter of his son James and three of his grandchildren who still play.

He was also a supporter of St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School where all of his children attended and his daughter Lizzy is a teacher. He also supported Devizes Opportunity Centre where his other daughter Emma works.

A collection after his funeral which will be held at 2pm at St John's Church on March 16 will be split between the opportunity centre and the RNLI.