TRIBUTES to a popular pub landlord have poured in following his sudden death.

Stewart Barnard, 62, had been the landlord of the Ye Olde Whyte Harte in Hamble for nearly two decades and died holding his wife’s hands at the beginning of this month.

Stewart started suffering with stomach pain while he was on holiday in the Caribbean and was diagnosed with cancer in May.

However, a few days later a specialist doctor told him that the situation was worse than originally thought and he had only two weeks to live.

After a few days spent at the Spire Southampton Hospital, Stewart died earlier this month.

Now, dozens of villagers are flocking to the pub to pay tribute to him and support his family.

Many pub-goers described him as a “legend” and said he was one of the few remaining old-fashioned pub landlords.

His son Mark Barnard, 29, a mechanic from Fair Oak, said: “There’s such a community love.

“His spirit will go on. He’s going to be here forever.

“He has touched everyone’s life in certain ways.

“He tried to be generous to everybody and this makes me proud.”

Stewart, who lived in Bishopstoke and Hamble his whole life, was an avid Saints fan and would go to St Mary’s Stadium for most home games.

He also loved rugby and played for the Bishopstoke-based rugby team, Rumbridge Pack. He had recently set up a group for ex-rugby players.

Bob Deakin, 60, a project manager from Hamble, knew Stewart for more than two decades as they used to play rugby together.

He said: “This village will miss him. It will be a sad loss for the community because he was a huge character.

“He loved everybody and everybody loved Stewart.”

The Hamble community will pay tribute to him at his funeral, which will be held later this month.

Chia Barnard, 56, Stewart’s wife for the past 12 years, said: “It’s going to be hilarious. That’s absolutely what he wanted.

“All the girls will be wearing summer dresses, he doesn’t want anybody to be sad at all.

“I’ve never had a sad day with him in 12 years.”

The funeral will be held at the Wessex Vale crematorium in West End at 3.15pm on June 23, with people cheering him away from the pub at 2.15pm.