A WORLD-renowned hotelier and former owner of the Pear Tree hotel in Purton has died.

Francis Young, who ran the Purton hotel with his wife Anne for more than 30 years died on December 28 after suffering a period of ill health.

He was also an author, worked as the Adver's wine correspondent, and a successful vineyard owner.

Before the Pear Tree Francis worked with Anne as the food and drink manager for King Hussein in Jordan in the royal family's summer palace.

Later he moved to the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados, known to be frequented by the rich and famous around the world, and later a Master Innholder, acting as a representative and ambassador for the hotel trade.

Sue Austin, who worked with him at the Pear Tree for 21 years, said: "He always had a wonderful story to tell. He was incredibly gregarious, and he could talk to anyone.

"He had an incredible knowledge about wine and I learnt a huge amount from him. He could taste a wine and sometimes tell you what year, he really knew his stuff."

As well as known in the hotel world, Francis was well-known in Swindon, especially for his knowledge on wine.

His daughter Alix told the Adver:"I remember we had a joke in the family that if we went to the supermarket and he had his bow tie on it would take twice as long as he’d keep being stopped by people - especially in the wine aisle as people would ask for his advice on what to buy.

"My brother and I probably spent far more time in wine shops than was normal for teenagers as each week he would visit various places across Swindon to find the right wines to write about that week.

“As a father he was funny and full of life. As a hotelier he’d say you needed to know a little bit about a lot of things and this is something he’s passed on to my brother and I - both personally and professionally - and he was always there with a fact or anecdote."

A memorial will be held for Francis at St Peters Church, Woodmancote, West Sussex on February 2 at 1430. All are welcome. He is survived by son Edward, daughter Alix, grandson Charlie as well as his sister Juliet and brother Nick.