Tributes have poured in for a man who was at the helm of a Maidstone tourist attraction for several years.

Tony Cheeseman died just two weeks after being diagnosed with a rare combination of leukaemia and bone marrow cancer.

Together with daughter Sara he ran the Kentish Lady river boat tours for 11 years. He recently sold the craft and was preparing for retirement with his wife of 47 years, Shirley.

Mr Cheeseman, 66, of Cowdrey Close in Barming, worked in the building trade for 40 years before investing in the vessel which toured the Medway.

Mrs Cheeseman, 64, who met her husband when she was 15 and married him aged 16, said: “He was such a lovely man.

“We travelled extensively and were planning more trips. I once mentioned that I would love to go on a particular tour to China without any expectation we might go, the following day he told me he’d booked it. That was the sort of man he was and he will be greatly missed.”

Described as a workaholic by his family, Mr Cheeseman’s son Martin, 47, recalls his father telling him he had spent 15,000 hours building a 44ft yacht which the family used to own.

Daughter Sara added: “We were like two peas in a pod. When he came to me with the idea to run the Kentish Lady he knew I would say yes.”

Mr Cheeseman died on Wednesday, December 3, and spent time in Maidstone Hospital’s intensive care unit. His family were at his bedside.

Mrs Cheeseman said the family highly praised the care he received while in hospital.

David Naghi, a close friend of Mr Cheeseman, paid tribute to him as one of the nicest men he had ever met, adding: “Tony made a huge contribution to Maidstone and was a supporter of the River Festival.

“This is a huge loss for the town.”

His funeral takes place at 2pm on Friday, December 19, at Vinters Park Crematorium and men are asked to wear pastel pink ties as a celebration of Mr Cheeseman's life.

His family have requested donations to Maidstone Hospital’s intensive care department instead of flowers. This can be done via Family Funeral Service, in Beverley Road, or on 01622 725704.