THE death of Okehampton's longest serving landlord, who was just about to start a new life in Spain, has shocked the community.

King's Arms landlord of 24 years Dick Godfrey, who was 56, died suddenly in the country he was to make his new home, just a day after buying a bungalow with his wife, Chrissie, in Torremolinos.

Cards and letters paying tribute to the highly respected landlord who was 'larger than life' have been flooding into the pub — at the last count it was 103.

Chrissie said she had received tremendous support, both from the couple's friends in Okehampton and new friends in Spain.

'One person described Dick as a legend and he was truly unique,' she said. 'He was such a fun-loving character and I have so many good memories of him — that and people talking about him and remembering him is what is keeping me going at the moment.'

The landlord, who had recently become a grand-father, would often be seen walking between the King's Arms in St James Street and the White Hart in Fore Street wearing his trademark denim shirt and flip-flops.

Chrissie said that not many people knew that Dick wore flip-flops because he had arthritic feet and other shoes were uncomfortable.

'He never wore anything else, and as for ties — he absolutely hated them,' she said.

A carpenter by trade, Dick ran a nightclub in Torquay before buying the King's Arms, where he spent the largest part of his working life. After marrying Chrissie 15 years ago, the couple worked hard to realise their dream of retiring to Spain.

'We had always wanted to live in Spain and we had found this terrific place which the English residents called The Village because it is so close-knit,' she said.

'We had only got to know people in the two-and-a-half weeks we spent out there but the kindness they showed to me when Dick died was really amazing.'

From springing a surprise on his wife by a hiring a limousine as part of her 50th birthday treat, to take her from Bristol to Okehampton, to streaking down the street in the early hours for the Devon Air Ambulance, to thrashing out a rendition of 'I Got You Babe' on karaoke nights, there was never a dull moment when Dick was around.

'I never knew what he was going to do next — he was totally spontaneous and he had the biggest heart. He would help anybody and nobody had a bad word to say about him.'

Friends, colleagues and customers have also been paying tribute to the man remembered for his wit, sense of humour and honesty.

Landlord of the Exeter Arms Harry Carr said Dick was one of the town's characters and 'a thoroughly nice guy'.

'He was one of the good guys and everybody got on with him — he will be very sadly missed.'

Tanya Kaczanow who used to work behind the bar at the King's Arms said he was always laughing and joking and taking the mickey.

'He was like a dad really,' she said. 'You could get a serious moment with Dick but more often than not it was something funny.

'I used to sing all the time behind the bar and he always said to me, don't give up the day job, so when I became a professional singer later on we all had a laugh about it.'

Best man at the Godfreys' wedding Adrian Thomas said no doubt Dick had 'found a little bar and was looking down on us all at this moment, fag in hand, waiting for us all to arrive'.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in next week's Okehampton Times.