Tribute to Guy Sadler

Guy by name and a wonderful guy to his many friends. So ran the tributes this week to Guy Sadler, a well known Sidmouth personality who has died, aged 82, in the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital after a long illness.

His quirky and twinkle-eyed good humour endeared him to many, not least to his committee colleagues at Sidmouth Rugby Club where he ran the Colts for many years, painted the lines ready for matches and, wearing his folkie hat, supervised the car parking on the Blackmore ground during Folk Week.

"If he could help, he would do anything for anyone," said club president Derek Marchant this week. "We always have three or four patrons lunches and at Christmas he'd get up and conduct the band for the carols. That was typical Guy. He really was a wonderful guy."

Tribute was also paid by Roger Usherwood, former warden at Salcombe Regis Parish Church, where Guy, who regularly read the lesson, was in the choir.

"He was one of my earliest signposts to the church 25 years ago," said Mr Usherwood. "He was such a likeable character in every way and a man who moulded in with the company without pushing himself forward. His loyalty was manifest. You always knew he was there.

"He loved to sing carols with us at Christmas at the Blue Ball and, because he was Guy, we always looked to him to auction the produce at our Harvest Supper."

Guy Geoffrey Sadler, born at Bushey in Hertfordshire, served in the army in Italy and the Middle East before studying at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. In l958 he set up home with his first wife, Sheila, at Thorn Farm, Salcombe Regis and the couple had five children, Amanda, William, Richard, Jonathan and Giles. He later married his second wife, Sue, a local district nurse, and together they ran the Holmesley Nursing Home in Fortescue and had two children, Alex and Penny. They subsequently lived for many years at Weston before moving to Sidford.

A keep fit enthusiast, Guy could often be seen cycling up Salcombe Hill or walking his dogs along the cliff tops. He continued working into his eighties, carrying out walling and gardening work in and around Sidmouth.

In his 80th year he made an extended trip to New Zealand where he helped out with the pigs on his son's smallholding, went hill walking and, being Guy, even found time for some wind surfing on the beach.

"What we'll remember above all about our father was his kindness," said his son, Richard. "He never seemed to have a bad word about anyone and had this inate ability to get on with people of all ages and from all backgrounds. He was a fine role model for us all."

A thanksgiving service in celebration of Guy's life, conducted by the Reverend Robin Laird, will be held at Salcombe Regis Church on Friday, June 5 at noon.