A RUGBY fanatic and grandfather known for his sense of humour has died peacefully.

Fred Prosser was 80 years old when he slipped away with his daughter and wife by his side at Blackdown Nursing Home in Mary Tavy, the Dartmoor Village he'd made his home for more than 40 years.

He leaves behind his wife Anita, his daughter Helen and her partner Mike, his son Keith, daughter-in-law Sally, and three beloved grandchildren, Jamie, 29, Florence, 15 and Beatrice, 13.

Fred had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for the past five years but died on Wednesday, January 26, after developing bronchial pneumonia.

"This man who had been so vibrant, so alive and a great joker with his wit, humour and generosity, is how we will all remember him," said Anita, his wife of 56 years.

She described him as a 'man's man who was gallant with the ladies' and immensely proud of his children's achievements.

Fred was born in Gloucester on May 15 1931 and joined the Royal Navy when he was 16 years old as a boy seaman, rising to become a PO in the physical training branch.

He met his wife Anita, then 19, at the age of 23 during a Navy Days event.

The pair were married at St Catherine's Church in Plymouth, which has since been demolished, and they honeymooned in Torquay.

Typical of Fred's happy-go-lucky character, the couple rode to their retreat on a First Class train but returned on top of a bus after Fred forgot to buy return tickets.

Fred proved his skill at rugby playing for Devonport Services when he was still a boy seaman, as well as Devon when they won the championship in 1957, and for the South West Counties against Australia in 1958.

In a match for Devon against Yorkshire at Home Park he was described as a 'fanatical tackler with a fine sense of position'.

He passed his love of the game on to his son Keith, who played for England School Boys.

At the age of 32 Fred tragically suffered a detached retina in his eye and was forced to leave the Navy, forging a new career in the oil industry working for Duckhams, which later became BP.

He retired at the age of 59 and spent his golden age gardening, mainly on the front patch, so he could chat to passers by, occasionally 'pulling their legs,' with his stories, often slightly tweaked by his lively imagination, Anita said.

He also had a huge passion for walking on Dartmoor with his beloved Spaniel, Maurice, the last in a long line of dogs.

Fred's other pleasure, apart form his family, was golf and he went on to become the captain at Okehampton Golf Club.

Anita praised Blackdown Nursing Home for the care they gave to Fred and her family for their support.

A service for Fred will be held at Mary Tavy Church at 12.30, on Monday February 6, followed Tavistock Golf Club.