A DAUGHTER has paid tributes to her sports-mad dad. Fred Edwards, left, of Highworth, died on April 25, aged 54, at Swindon's Great Western Hospital after a 10-week fight against a heart infection.

His daughter, Elaine Bayliss, 30, from Fairford, said: "He loved all sports that was his life.

"He played tennis, darts, bowls and was a big football fan of Highworth Town, Swindon Town and Manchester United.

"He was also a fantastic grandad the type who would go and sit in a tent with the children. He was still very young at heart.

"He will be missed by lots of sportsmen and sports women in the area, as well as friends and family."

Mr Edwards was brought up and educated in Hungerford in Berkshire, and moved several times around Berkshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire before settling in Highworth in 1997. In the early 90s, when he was living in Cirencester, he got a job with Swindon Town Football Club as a groundsman at the County Ground but was later made redundant.

Mrs Bayliss said: "Working at Swindon Town was a dream job for Dad. I remember he once took us around the stadium. He let us help him do a pitch inspection. It really was a job he loved. "

Nine years ago he suffered a stroke and lost the sight in one eye because of diabetes.

Following the stroke, doctors urged him to take it easy, but sport dominated his life and he still managed to spend several days a week helping out local sports clubs.

Over the years, he played tennis, darts and snooker, but more recently developed an interest in bowls.

He played for Highworth Bowls Club and was also a member of the Swindon and District Men's Bowling Association.

Brian Stallard, the secretary of the Highworth Bowls Club, described Mr Edwards as a true gentleman. He said: "Fred was probably one of the best-known bowls players in the area, not just for his playing but his willingness to help anybody.

"He was always immaculately dressed. He would even ask me where my tie was if I wasn't wearing one. He will be sorely missed."

He leaves daughters, Elaine and Julie, 26, three grandchildren, Jacob, six, two-year-old Genevieve and five-month-old Yazmin.

He was one of three children. His brother still lives with his father in Hungerford and his sister now lives in Lambourn.

The funeral will be held at St Lawrence Church, Hungerford, today at 2.30pm and donations can be made to the Intensive Care Unit at the GWH.