Tributes have been paid to a popular former Newtown pub landlord, councillor and family man.

Edward 'Ted' Sheriff, who was the landlord of The Eagles in Shortbridge Street for 10 years, died peacefully on his 96th birthday.

“He always wanted to make people laugh,” said his youngest daughter, Vickie.

“He could tell a yarn and always had a good joke.”

Ted leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth, five of his eight children, Graham, Penny, Amanda, Sarah and Victoria, 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A much-loved landlord of The Eagles pub, Ted also became a councillor on the Montgomeryshire Rural Council and also a member of the Newtown Masons and was an active fundraiser for the town’s Rotary Club.

He was the verger and church warden of St David’s Church on New Road, was the chairman of the town’s RNLI. He was an active supporter of The Stroke Club, often seen calling out the bingo numbers on social lunches.

His family said: "His love of a good party, his competitive ‘grandad’ joke telling, and wry sense of humour stood out along with his welcoming smile and easy company.

"In fact, he would always read the County Times to check he wasn’t in the obituaries!"

Born in Hacksby in York, he joined the army in 1944 and moved to India to train as an officer with the West Yorkshire Regiment.

Just two years later, he was put in charge of a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Singapore.

During the war, he married his first wife Marcia with whom he had five children, but they later parted.

After India, he was demobbed from the army. Africa beckoned and a role in the copper mines in Muflira saw Ted rise through the ranks in HR.

In 1964, he met Elizabeth, a midwife. They married and moved back to Wales, and to life in Newtown where they raised three more children.

His pride in his family shone through above all else

The family would like to thank the staff of Meadowbank Nursing Home and Welshpool Hospital for their kindness in Ted’s final weeks, and to the All Saints Church family who have been a great comfort to Elizabeth.

The funeral will take place on Wednesday, August 3, at 1pm, Llanllwchaiarn Church, Primrose Drive, Newtown.

It will be followed by a celebration of his life at the Monty Club, Broad Street.

And in typical Ted fashion, no one is asked to wear black.