TRIBUTES have been paid to the “irreplaceable” chairman of the City of Newport Male Choir who died at the end of May.

Colin Shurmer, who served as chairman for the last five years, “lived and breathed” the choir and was known for having a “heart of gold”.

He died aged 66 on May 28 after a 15-week battle with cancer. His funeral will be held at the Gwent Crematorium on Thursday at 11.15am.

The father-of-five and grandfather-of-11 was a lorry driver until an industrial accident in 2002 stopped him driving.

His daughter Kim Shurmer said the choir became is salvation and his life.

On behalf of her siblings and mother Sue, who Colin married in 1978, she said: “Dad was an extremely kind and generous man. He had a huge heart and was always willing to help anyone in any way he could.

“I have wonderful memories of school holidays spent travelling the country and Europe in his beloved lorry. Words cannot express how much we will miss him.

“We would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and thoughts at this very difficult time."

Male Choir president Allan Morris said: “He was a remarkable man who lived, breathed and slept the City of Newport Male Choir.

“He was a fantastic ambassador for our city and his choir. Nothing was too much trouble.

“He was particularly good at looking after some of the frailer choristers and was always on hand to help them and their families when they needed it.

“They say people are irreplaceable, but in Colin’s case this is absolutely true.

“I can think of few people that have done more to put the city of Newport on the map than Colin has. He was a character who will sorely missed.”

Les Price, who was elected chairman at a meeting on Monday, said: “Colin was prolific in trying to raise funds to help support the choir.

“Colin, in my estimation, was one of the best chairmen we’ve had for a long while, to raise funds like that doesn’t come easy. His own personal efforts have not gone unnoticed by the choir.

“He had a heart of a gold, he was a wonderful man.”

On his own election as chairman, Mr Price said he had an unenviable task as he will “never fill Colin’s shoes and could never take his place”.

The choir is already planning a memorial concert for Colin, at a date yet to be arranged.