The mother of Lee Dowse, who died in the garden of the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham last week, said she is overwhelmed by the number of loving messages for her son.

Mr Dowse died suddenly in the garden of the Old Road Tavern, aged 44.

His funeral will is on Wednesday at Haycombe Cemetery in Bath at 3.30pm, followed by a wake at the Old Road Tavern.

His mother, Irene Dowse, who lives in Keynsham, said: “The messages have been absolutely amazing. People say bad things about Facebook but there have been so many people leaving kind messages.”

Mr Dowse grew up in Keynsham, and had recurring health problems throughout his life including two kidney transplants.

His mother was the donor the first time round, when he was 19. She said: “His kidneys failed and he was on dialysis for 9 to 10 months before the first transplant. Afterwards he went off travelling and had a new lease of life.”

After seeing the world and working with Captain Bob’s Circus in Bath, Mr Dowse moved to Chippenham. He met Jackie Toner and they had two children together, Henry, 20, and Rose, 15.

Mr Dowse worked with Chippenham charity Kandu Arts for ten years.

Ed Deedigan, director of Kandu and a close friend of Mr Dowse, said: “Lee was one of those guys that to know him was to love him. He had a great relationship with lots of the kids here. It’s very important that he wasn’t just someone that juggled, but he was a main part of it. He got the up and coming kids working and making their lives better.

“He came to the Kandu offices the day he died for the first time in a long time. I’d say he’s gone but will never be forgotten.

“We have a football tournament planned for August 4, which we’re now calling the Lee Dowse Memorial Cup. He started the project Kandu Kicks with us and always got in there playing, even when he could barely run.”

In 2006 Mr Dowse needed a second kidney transplant and his friend, Donna Mitchell, gave him one of hers. She said: “He was my brother, my chosen family, and I’ll never forget him.

“I’ll always remember his sense of humour. He was always about making people laugh and smile and that’s what I will always remember.

“He was funny, caring. His mission in life was to make people happy, all he ever wanted was for people to be happy.”