Tributes paid to popular Corsham postman

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The family of Corsham postman Chris King have paid tribute to him after he died suddenly on Saturday.

The 48-year-old father of four had been driving to collect his 13-year-old daughter Anna from horse riding in Neston on Saturday afternoon when he pulled over in Valley Road and collapsed.

Paramedics attended the scene but were unable to save him. It is thought he suffered a haemorrhage.

Mr King, a keen sportsman who was diagnosed with throat cancer 15 months ago, lived with his wife, Alison, in Katherine Park. The couple, who had been together for 19 years and married three years ago, have two children, Anna, a Corsham School student, and Joseph, 17, who is studying at Wiltshire College.

Mr King also leaves two older children, Aaron, 27, and Amy, 26, from a previous marriage and two grandchildren.

Mrs King, a swimming teacher, said her husband had many friends. She said: “He was just a very genuine and gentle man. Chris was a fantastic dad and husband. He was well liked and that is more apparent than ever.

“He was a great sportsperson playing rugby for Corsham in his younger years as well as darts and snooker and more recently cricket with his son Joe.”

Mr King’s twin sister, Hazel King, of The Ridge, Neston, said he had undergone major treatment for cancer.

She said: “He fought his illness with amazing dignity and courage, never complaining and always had a smile.” He was diagnosed after seeing his GP about a sore throat and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

John Beazer, who used to play rugby with Mr King at Corsham Rugby Club, said: “He was a really nice guy who was always happy-go-lucky.

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The life of Chris King

Corsham postman Chris King, 48, who collapsed and died on Saturday, was well known throughout the town for his love of sport and his kindness to others.

Mr King was born on November 24, 1961 to John and Elizabeth King and grew up at The Ridge, Neston with his seven brothers, John, 58, David, 57, Norman, 54, Geoff, 53, Will, 52, Ade, 50, and Malcolm, 43, as well as his twin sister Hazel.

He went to Neston Primary School and then to Corsham School before leaving at the age of 16 to take on numerous odd jobs, mostly factory work, before settling into his job as a postman ten years ago.

During his first marriage Mr King had two children Aaron, 27, and Amy, 26.

He and his second wife Alison, 43, have two children Joseph, 17, and Anna, 13.

He was a keen sportsman joining Neston Club playing snooker, darts, football and having a pint or two in between.

He also played rugby for Corsham RFC and participated in cricket, a love which he shared with his son Joe. Mr King was a lifelong supporter of Leicester City Football Club, which he often went to watch with his younger brother Malcolm.

His sister-in-law Liz King said that, although he was a quiet, private man, he knew how to make people feel good just by smiling.

She said: “He always had that sparkle in him and he just needed to look at you and you smiled. He had a really charismatic personality and, if he could help you, he would.”

His twin sister Hazel King added: “He was such a lovely man who would do anything for anyone. He was always joking and smiling.”

He was dealt a blow 15 months ago when he was diagnosed with throat cancer, and had undergone major treatments that were still ongoing.

Mr King died suddenly on Saturday, after collapsing on Valley Road as he went to collect his daughter Anna from a horse riding lesson.

The funeral will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church on Tuesday at 1pm followed by a private burial and then a wake at Corsham Cricket Club.

Donations in Mr King’s memory can be made to MacMillan Cancer Care and Heads Up, a cancer research charity at the John Radcliffe Hospital, c/o Merrett funeral directors, 57a Pickwick Road, Corsham, SN13 9BS.