The ‘larger than life’ father of Swindon golf star David Howell has died at the age of 79.

The former antiques dealer Ray Howell passed away peacefully on June 8 in Spain.

Ray was well-known in Swindon as the owner of the town’s longest running antiques shop – Howells – on Devizes Road. The shop closed in 2007 upon Ray’s retirement.

Son David Howells, who found fame on the international golfing circuit, paid tribute to his ‘memorable’ father.

“Anyone who had three minutes with my dad would remember him,” David said. “He was always trying to make a joke – to get a laugh out of things.”

The 79-year-old helped nurture the careers of golfer son David, 41, and Ian, 44 – now a coach with Chelsea Football Club.

David said: “One of the things my dad has done a lot of over the years is walk around golf courses with me.

“The number of people who just remember my dad is incredible. I’ll be playing out in the West of America - somewhere I’ve only been twice – and a random marshal will say: ‘Hey, where’s your dad?’”

“For even ten minutes he spent in people’s company he always left his mark.

“I think that’s what my brother and I like about him so much. He was a very memorable man.”

Liden resident Ray, who lived part of the year on Sedgebrook and spent the winter months in Spain, was for decades a well-loved Swindon trader.

His career began in 1952, when the 15-year-old Ray started as an apprentice French polisher. He set up antiques and furniture store Howells on Devizes Road in 1971, initially selling second-hand government furniture.

The Swindon man, who sold his business in 2007 after 36 years in the antiques business, was a keen performer – for many years a leading light in the Swindon Gilbert and Sullivan Society and was involved with Swindon Opera and Swindon Male Voice Choir. The born performer was also briefly a mascot for Swindon Town in 1990.

“As kids we were always dragged along to shows,” said David.

"The one show I did like was Pirates of Penzance. My dad played the Pirate King, strutting around the stage.”

In 2009 Ray, by then living in Spain, drafted in 21 singers from Swindon to swell the ranks of an ex-pat choir. The ensemble, which contained performers who had never sung in public before, sang in front of 400 people at a Palm Sunday service near Valencia.

At the time, Ray told the Adver: “Music is in my blood and I don’t think that will ever change, whatever country I am in.”

A memorial service is planned at Christ Church, Old Town, on July 11 at 12:30pm.