Sandy Martin

Mr Martin, 53, who lived in Swindon, died on March 17. He was married to Sarah and they had two-year-old twins. Mr Martin also had a grown up daughter from a previous marriage.

Mr Martin moved from his native Scotland to Wiltshire and made his name as a nightclub DJ at Swindon’s Brunel Rooms. He joined BBC Wiltshire in 1998, hosting a range of shows including the World Tour of Wiltshire.

He was taken ill at the beginning of November and diagnosed with a brain tumour.

BBC Wiltshire editor Tony Worgan said his death was a “great shock” to everyone and described Mr Martin as a “great support and loyal ally”.

He added: “Although we’ve known for a few months that Sandy has been seriously ill, it still comes as a great shock to everyone at BBC Wiltshire.

“One thing people always noticed about Sandy was his infectious, never-ending enthusiasm. He made thinking positively into an art form.

“I appointed Sandy as a member of the BBC Wiltshire management team ten years ago and since then he has been a great support and loyal ally and I shall miss him very much.”

Mr Martin began his radio career with a weekly Disco Trekkin programme on commercial station GWR, while still a successful nightclub DJ at Swindon’s Brunel Rooms.

He also produced special programmes featuring locally-based stars such as explorer David Hempleman-Adams and musician and singer Midge Ure.

Midge Ure said: “There was just something about him, a charm, and when he’d ask you to do things there was no way of saying no. He had a lovely persona.”

Most recently he had been BBC Wiltshire’s “Man with a Van”, out on the streets of the county gathering interviews with ordinary people which were broadcast as Your Stories from Your Place.

David Holdsworth, controller of BBC English Regions, said: “Sandy’s wonderful human qualities meant that everyone wanted to talk to him and to tell him their stories.

“He made a huge contribution to the BBC and to local life in Wiltshire, and he will be sorely missed.”