Farmer Bill Laslett will not only be remembered for his passion for sport but also for helping to create facilities now enjoyed by thousands.

The 76-year-old grandfather, who collapsed and died suddenly from a heart attack last week, was instrumental alongside his brother Dick in acquiring Polo Farm as a new home for Canterbury Hockey Club in the late 70s.

The club had been booted off its Kingsmead site by the city council and its future looked uncertain until the brothers, who both played for the club, stumped up about £27,000 for nine acres of land at Polo Farm. They later sold it to the sports club at a generous discount.

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In 1982, the then Beverley Cricket Club merged with Canterbury Pilgrims to join the hockey club as founders of the Polo Farm Sports Club. It later also became the home of Canterbury Tennis Club.

Dick was president of the club for 25 years before stepping down recently.

Bill's devastated family, including wife of 53 years Linda and their five sons, Gary, Steve, Daniel, Vernon and Ben, say his death was completely unexpected because he was fit and well and led such an active lifestyle.

He collapsed last Monday on his way home with a friend from playing table tennis in the Thanet league, another sport he loved and through which he first met Linda

Speaking from their farmhouse at Little Weddington, near Ash, Linda said: "We can only console ourselves that he died doing something he loved."

Bill suffered tragedy himself in the early 60s when his parents were killed in a road accident on the A257, near Polo Farm, as they drove to watch him play hockey at Kingsmead.

Bill, who went to Kent College, was just 19 at the time and he and Dick had to find their own way, eventually buying Little Weddington Farm.

He was still active on the farm, now run by three of his sons, at the time of his death.

Bill played 1st XI hockey for Canterbury right through the 1960s and continued well into his early 50s in the lower XIs.

Encouraged and supported by their dad, his sons all went on to enjoy sporting success in either hockey, football and cricket.

"We couldn't have had a better dad", said Dan, who used to captain the Canterbury 1st XI team.

"He was unassuming and quite reserved but always had a smile on his face and loved to watch and get involved."

Bill's other sporting loves were cricket and lawn bowls, both of which he played for Ash.

A family tradition for many years has been a hockey match between the Lasletts and a team from Canterbury Hockey Club on Boxing Day, which they hope will continue.

A private family service will take place at Barham crematorium in the morning on Thursday, February 21, which will be followed at 1pm by a celebration of his life open to all at St Nicholas Church in Ash where Bill was a regular worshipper.