Stephen Mower

A Norfolk community is mourning the loss of the managing director of a local civil engineering business and a "wonderful family man loved by everyone he met".

Stephen Mower, who died on March 20 aged 54, created groundwork specialists Trell Contractors with his two brothers 30 years ago and was a managing director from the beginning.

He was an avid supporter of Norwich City Football Club and, to celebrate his life, Trell, based in Watton, is sponsoring their Easter Monday game at Carrow Road against West Brom.

His wife Colleen, 64, who married him in 1979, said: "He was a wonderful husband, dad and granddad and we all miss him so much.

"He was one of those people that if you met him you would remember him forever. Everybody had great admiration for him and he always had time for everyone."

Mr Mower had four sons - Simon, 27, Mark, 23, Paul, 37, and Carl, 40 - and four grandchildren - Hannah, Daniel, Megan and Jake.

As well as his family, cricket and football were his great loves.

"He even refereed a game on our wedding day, which everyone always laughs about," Mrs Mower fondly remembered. "In his younger days he played football for Saham Toney and was a football referee. He had also been a fan of Norwich City since he was about 14 years old."

Mr Mower was born in Threxton, near Watton, and spent his whole life in the area. He lived with his wife in Saham Hills and was a member of Saham Toney Parish Council for more than five years.

He had bravely fought heart disease for the past 12 years and had had two heart bypasses.

Mr Mower's funeral will be on Tuesday at St George's Church, Saham Toney, at 10.30am followed by a private cremation. His family do not want people to wear black.

Donations for Papworth Hospital and the British Heart Foundation in honour of Mr Mower can be sent to Breckland Funeral Service, 25 Norwich Road, Watton IP25 6DA.