A WELL known farmer and councillor who suddenly died of a heart attack has been hailed for his "kind, thoughtful and gregarious" nature.

Roger Emmett, a 67 year-old father-of-two, died last week, prompting an outpouring of tributes.

His family, including his wife Frances, said in a written statement: "Roger was a kind, thoughtful and gregarious character, who was interested in those around him; he was exceptional at connecting people’s interests together. Roger’s passing is a major loss to his family, friends and the local community.

"We have been overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness, kindness and care from all of Rogers’s friends who have supported us at this time."

Cllr Emmett was born in Caversham November 2 1945 and lived in the Hambleden valley all his life, where he farmed. He was brought up in Rockwell End with his brother David and sister Judith. Cllr Emmett was a key member of the farming community and was passionate about the countryside.

His family said: "Roger loved the countryside and in particular the Hambleden valley.

"Roger’s passions for sports and the countryside were combined in his love of game shooting. He ran his own pheasant and partridge shoot on his farm for thirty years."

He came from a large farming family, who have farmed in the area for three generations.

After finishing school, Cllr Emmett came home to work on the family farm. His father died suddenly and left him and his brother to run it when they were in their early twenties. He was very involved in Maidenhead Young Farmers Club, as well as Nettlebed Farming Club.

He was also Chairman of the Royal South Bucks Agricultural Association. Latterly, he became a board member of Royal Agricultural Society of England. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Farmers and made many friendships in the farming community worldwide through these organisations.

Cllr Emmett married his wife in 1972. Their eldest son Mark, 38, lives in Italy with his partner Heather and their granddaughter Astrid, three, and younger son Neill 35, lives with his wife Esme in Henley.

Cllr Emmett was a pupil at Landsdowne School in High Wycombe, and Kings School in Sherbourne, Gloucestershire. He was heavily involved in the Kings School Old Boys Association. He later attended the Institute of Agriculture at Moulton, Northampton.

As a young man, Roger played rugby in Marlow, and then coached some of the junior teams in Henley with his young sons, and then played with the veterans at Henley. He was a keen supporter of rural initiatives, such as the Buckinghamshire Neighbourhood Action Group and the Chilterns Conservation Board.

The funeral will take place tomorrow, at Hambleden Church at 2pm. The family said no flowers please but anyone wishing to make a donation to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, is asked to donate through Tomlin’s funeral directors Henley on Thames.