Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Castle Combe test driver, motor racer and engineer Terry Sanger, who has died aged 79 from cancer.

Driver Ed Moore grew up with Mr Sanger as his immediate neighbour in Bradford on Avon for 40 years and would often accompany Terry to vintage car events.

Mr Moore said: “He was a gifted natural engineer as well as a test driver. Terry offered advice and help in the early days of my business, Motorsport Events Ltd, and was a hugely generous, kind man.

“My dad Ian and Terry were always loaning each other tools and helping each other out with preparation of race cars, rebuilding engines and mending all sorts of machinery. There wasn't anything that they couldn't tackle.”

Mr Moore sent his condolences to Terry’s wife, Diana, and their children, Tim and Jenny.

In 1963 Mr Sanger worked as a development engineer on the Marcos 1800 at Marcos in Bradford on Avon, where his wife Diana was a secretary.

Jem Marsh, owner of Marcos since it was established in 1959 until his retirement in 2002, said: “Terry was a first class man. He was very clever and he did an awful lot towards the development and production of the Marcos 1800. He was a very important cog to Marcos as a whole.”

Chris Chivers has been marshalling at Castle Combe race circuit since 1974, where Mr Sanger was chief instructor, and said: “He was a very generous, good friend who was the most interesting person I have ever met. He read an awful lot and was like an encyclopaedia.”

Rob Ford, area leader of Club Lotus Avon where supporter Mr Sanger was guest speaker on numerous occasions, said: “Terry was always a larger than life personality, full of enthusiasm and willing to help. He was always inviting people to come to his place to see his collection of vehicles. We are definitely going to miss him a lot.”

Mr Sanger’s funeral is in his native Pembrokeshire at 2pm on Tuesday. A memorial event is planned for October in Bath.