A POPULAR Newport man who ran a carpet shop in the city for more than 20 years has died.

Tom Witton, 65, ran Tom Witton Carpets and Flooring at Corporation Road with his wife, Shirley, having started the business at his premises at Cromwell Road in 1983.

Mr Witton helped thousands of customers across Gwent in that timeframe and as well as laying the carpets for various churches, hospices and mosques, he even assisted with the refurbishment of the Celtic Manor Resort.

Mr Witton previously worked as a milkman with Unigate and was a familiar face on his rounds in St Julians, with his three daughters, Nicola, Andrea and Liz, often in tow.

A season ticket holder with Newport Gwent Dragons, Mr Witton was a huge rugby fan and even attended Wales’ very first Six Nations game, against Italy, in 2000.

He also enjoyed motor racing, attending numerous races at Silverstone in the 1980s, and spent much of his life restoring his cherished 1948 Triumph Roadster.

Having never had any health issues, Mr Witton was diagnosed with cancer in January and died on Thursday April 16 in the Royal Gwent hospital.

Mr Witton’s wife, Shirley, who he married in 1976, said: “He was very active and there was never anything wrong with him. He even looked healthy when he was in his hospital bed.

“He had just been winding down the business ahead of the end of the financial year in March for his retirement.

“He didn’t want to disappoint anyone and we even had phone calls about carpets when he was in hospital.

“He was very popular and a real character.”

One of Mr Witton’s three daughters, Nicola McFall, added: “We loved my Dad dearly.

“He always had a great sense of humour and was a calm and loving father.”

Mr Witton is survived by his wife, Shirley; his three daughters, Nicola, Andrea and Liz; and his six grandchildren, Conor, Morgan, Aaron, Emilie, Carys, and Ellie.

His funeral will take place tomorrow at 11.30am at St John’s Church in Maindee.