A POPULAR Newport DJ died, aged 58, at the Royal Gwent Hospital, after losing his battle with a devastating illness.

For more than 20 years David Walsh was a regular on the city's pub and club scene. His love of music was such that despite suffering from lung cancer, he continued to work right up until three weeks before he died.

His step-daughter, Rachel Riley, explained: "David loved all kinds of music, he absolutely lived for it. Everyone on the Newport music scene knew him."

Mr Walsh, from Rhiwderin, was a popular figure in city centre haunts such as the Cotton Club, Hornblower, Morgans, Six Bells, Riverside Tavern and the Handpost.

But it was a quieter interest that first brought him to the city.

Born in Ilminster, Somerset, on December 18, 1947, he moved to Newport in 1981.

Rachel explained: "He always loved the legend of King Arthur and Merlin, and initially came here because of Caerleon's connections to that legend."

Rachel said: "He had a big personality and great sense of humour, a true fun-loving eccentric."