TRIBUTES have been paid to restaurant owner and dad Enam-Ul Haque Chowdhury, who devoted much of his life to the community.

He died at the Great Western Hospital on February 19 aged 59 after developing symptoms of Covid-19.

Enam and his staff had dished up more than 3,500 discounted and free meals to key workers during lockdown. He also donated meals to the hospital and to vulnerable children.

He opened his own takeaway in 1991 which was a huge hit and gave him the confidence to open Ganges Indian Restaurant in Royal Wootton Bassett two years later.

The restaurant won the Wiltshire Business Awards 2018 - the same year he was invited by the Queen for a reception in Buckingham Palace to acknowledge his contribution to the community.

A Bangladeshi by birth, he moved to the UK in 1986 and committed himself to his work and family.

The Chowdhury family said in a statement: “We would just like to take the time to thank everyone. Although going through something like this definitely has been a challenge for us, it has been made easier by the outpouring of support we have received and we are incredibly thankful for this, we feel incredibly privileged to be based in such a loving and caring community.”

Enam was founder of the BestChildren international charity, national senior vice president of the Bangladesh Caterers Association UK, and founder and life member of London Bangla Press Club.

Mayor Nic Hughes, said: “Enam was well known in the town, he was a big part of Wootton Bassett, he organised a lot of charity events and was involved with the Rotary Club, and I met him through some of those town events. He was proud of his heritage, and he worked to bring the English and Bangladeshi communities together and those are the things that I will remember most about him.

“He was very keen to open the doors to the community and break down the barriers that were there. He was a bubbly character and had a presence amongst people. He always spoke to people and made sure everything was okay. I think the town will remember him for running Ganges for so long, his generosity and being a significant part of Royal Wootton Bassett.”

For the last three years, he was a public governor of Brighter Futures. In a statement a spokesperson for the appeal said: “Enam was such a great supporter of the charity and we will be forever grateful for everything that he has done to support the work and staff of the Great Western Hospital.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.”

North Wiltshire MP James Gray was a friend of his for three decades, he said: “Enam was a great pillar of the community. He used his restaurant for charitable purposes, having fundraising events there, but he also did a lot of work with helping people in lockdown. It’s doubly ironic and tragic he succumbed to Covid-19.

“He was a great supporter of lots of great causes and Ganges is one of the best restaurants around.”

His funeral cortege on February 23 took him past the Ganges one last time and stopped by the Town Hall to give people a chance to say goodbye. He leaves a wife of 32 years, Jasmin, and their three sons Mijan, Taseen, and Tahlil.