'THE best husband and father in the world', 'a magnetic personality' and 'a great sense of humour' — these are just some of the tributes following the death of a well loved West Devon property agent.

Martin Gibbs, aged 46, the managing director of Mansbridge and Balment, died at St Luke's Hospice, Plymouth, on April 15, after a battle with cancer. He leaves a widow, Tina, and two children, Holly, and Daniel.

Family, friends and colleagues all agreed Martin was 'a larger than life' character who gave so much on many levels to his family, business, local clubs and charities.

Tina, told the Times: 'He was the best husband in the world' . . . and 'the best dad,' chipped in Daniel.

She continued: 'We had a wonderful 19 years together and never had a cross word — 'mainly because he admitted I was always right! Martin was just a lovely, lovely man, who was larger than life and a bright, bubby personality but at the same time, a very private man, who loved his family to bits.'

A past chairman of Tavistock Round Table, Martin also loved sport, and it was his influence and enthusiasm which resulted in estate agents Mansbridge and Balment sponsoring many local sporting clubs, including Tavistock Cricket Club, Whitchurch Cricket Club, Tavistock AFC, Tavistock Rugby Club and Tavistock Athletic Club.

A keen runner, who took part in half marathons, it was Martin, who was behind his firm's sponsorship of the popular Tavy 7 and Tavy 13 running events.

David Balment, the former managing director of Mansbridge and Balment and now retired, remembers with affection, when Martin joined the firm as a property agent in 1997 and saw him rise to become managing director in 2006.

He said: 'Martin was a fantastic man to work with and I can honestly say, without doubt, the best agent I have known, who has been a terrific asset to the company.

'We worked well together, never had a cross word and had a wonderful working relationship. He brought so much flair and dynamism to the town, one which will be definitely missed.'

An outlandish dress sense, certainly in the shirt and tie department, was always of great amusement to all who knew him.

Mr Balment recalled when Martin was about to do one of his first appointments at the Tavistock branch and was dressed in a rather colourful shirt and a 'Dennis the Menace' tie — David didn't think it was quite appropriate.

Martin replied that if he didn't come back with instructions he would wear a 'boring shirt and tie' like David! Needless to say, he returned sporting his Dennis the Menace!

Nick Henderson, a director of Mansbridge and Balment, was a good friend of Martin long before they worked together.

'His fantastic and bizarre sense of humour was just one of so many traits of his magnetic personality.

'Rarely conventional, especially his legendary shirt/tie combinations, Martin was ever capable of surprise or wind-up,' he said.

'Anyone who ever met him will never forget his tremendous presence and huge personality.

'As an estate agent, he was the best. He would lead by example and had a passion for the business, which none could match. Martin had no airs or graces, he never became hung up with the role of managing director, preferring as he did to lead by example and immerse himself in agency work.'

Nick remembered one occasion when he was interviewing someone in the Tavistock office and they told me how impressed they were with listening to the chap at the front desk‚ how enthusiastic and knowledgeable he seemed. They were quite taken aback when he explained that it was, in fact, the managing director of the firm, with his sleeves rolled up, taking all the phone calls!

'The world is a much emptier place without him, he was one in a million,' added Nick.

The company said they would always be very grateful to Martin as an individual, as he led them through hard times during the economic recession of 2008 and his work left them with the solid business platform they enjoy today.

Pete Woodley said he and Martin had been great friends since 1991 and he was privileged that Martin was the best man at his wedding.

'He was a great friend, not just to me but to an awful lot of people. We shared the same sense of humour and, both working in property, shared times, good and bad.

'One problem I had though with Martin was that you couldn't walk down the street with him in Tavistock because there was always somebody who wanted to talk to him. A simple stroll down the high street took me five times as long! He was a real character and will be missed.'

Martin's funeral will take place at St Eustachius Church, Tavistock on Friday, May 6 at 2pm.

If people would like to make a donations in memory of Martin then they can at the retiring collection or send to S J Backwell, funeral directors, 32a Brook Street, Tavistock. Monies will go to St Luke's Hospice and MacMillan Nurses.