George Baker, the film, stage and TV actor, will long be remembered by the community of Devizes which he made his own for more than 20 years.

Dozens of teenage members of the youth club he founded are expected among the mourners at the funeral a week on Monday.

Mr Baker, who died at Market Lavington Nursing and Residential Centre on Friday evening aged 80, was universally loved in the area as a result of his unfailing good humour and use of his time for community and charity activities.

He died peacefully after suffering two strokes earlier this year with his daughters Sarah and Eleanor at his bedside.

Sarah Pearson, nee Baker, said: “He had been very debilitated by the strokes so it was a release for him.

“It has been lovely seeing the messages of love, affection and gratitude that people have been sending. We know how much he did for the local community but we will remember the big burly bear of a man who was incredibly generous of spirit and also a great actor.”

Although Mr Baker was known by the general public as Chief Inspector Reg Wexford, the hero of the TV cop series created by crime writer Ruth Rendell, an older generation will remember him as Emperor Tiberius in the TV adaptation of I, Claudius and before that as hero of such swashbuckling films as The Moonraker.

But locally he was the man who founded West Lavington Youth Club after seeing youngsters huddled in a freezing bus shelter because they had nowhere to meet. He was appointed MBE in 2007 for his work in establishing the club.

Current chairman, Eric Freeman, said: “I knew George ever so well, he was a great friend. He was a great supporter of the youth club, which is how I got to know him. He was chairman but as his health deteriorated he asked me to take it on for him.

“He was a wonderful man and did so much for everyone in the community. He was just a wonderful person. He gave everything for us.

“He was a really good fundraiser and helped keep the youth club going in difficult times when funding from government and local councils had dried up. He will be really missed.”

The youth club is planning a memorial which is yet to be discussed with Mr Baker’s family.

Because of his humble beginnings – his father died when he was a child and he helped bring up his brothers – Mr Baker was a supporter of the Labour Party and campaigned for the local candidate at the 1992 General Election.

Coun Ray Taylor, on behalf of the Devizes constituency Labour Party, said: “George was a lifelong member of the Labour Party. As well as the West Lavington Youth Club he raised a lot of money for the specialist cancer unit at Southampton Hospital. He will long be remembered for his commitment to and interest in the local community.”

The funeral will take place at All Saints Church, West Lavington, on Monday, October 24, at noon with a memorial service in London at a later date.