THE Devizes headquarters of Age Concern Wiltshire has been inundated with messages of sympathy after the death of their assistant director Roger Chalk at the age of 56.

Mr Chalk, who lived in Edington, near Westbury, had been diagnosed with cancer in November last year and had undergone surgery in recent months, but his death at Salisbury District Hospital has come as a shock to all who knew him.

He joined Age Concern Wiltshire in 2001, after careers as a textile designer, postmaster and manager of

W H Smith newsagents in Trowbridge and Chippenham.

Before joining Age Concern he took a counselling course at Chippenham College.

Moving into the voluntary sector meant he could use his retail background, artistic flair and outgoing personality to benefit the plight of older people in the county.

Liddy Davidson, director of Age Concern Wiltshire, said the staff were devastated by his death.

She said: "Roger was totally dedicated in everything he did and was a prime example of round peg in a round hole.

"I have never known anyone to take such joy in his work and inspire so many others with his infectious enthusiasm.

"He believed passionately in the services we offer and worked tirelessly and professionally to make them more available to local older people."

Mr Chalk turned the annual meetings of the charity into evenings of great interest and entertainment.

He used his artistic skills to produce a calendar for the organisation last Christmas.

More recently he turned his attention to the advice and information side of the organisation and was particularly keen to protect older people from the scourge of "distraction burglaries".

The activities of bogus officials who prey on older people and steal their valuables have become epidemic in recent years and Mr Chalk took up the challenge of informing older people of this threat to their property.

He arranged for theatrical company Solomon Associates to present their musical Trickster, written by a former police officer and using familiar popular songs of the 1940s.

The musical will be performed at Devizes Corn Exchange on July 5, and Neeld Hall, Chippenham and Trowbridge Civic Centre on July 6.

The show stars well-known local actors Mark Hyde, Ruth Curtis and Tim Laycock.

It is not only the staff and clients of Age Concern Wiltshire who will miss him.

Mr Chalk, who leaves a wife Maggi and grown-up daughter Jo, was a stalwart of the Rotary Club for 26 years in Malmesbury and Trowbridge.

His funeral took place last Friday at West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington. Donations can be made to Age Concern Wiltshire.