Family, friends and colleagues are mourning the death of a man described as a “great ambassador” and “father figure” in the West End community.

Colin Smith, the former Somerset Cricket Club president and senior customs officer, died after suffering a heart attack on Friday. He was 56.

Mr Smith, who resided in St David’s, served as Somerset’s president from the mid 1990s until 2005.

He also had a brief stint as the club’s vice president before succeeding Erwyn Bean in the top post in 1995.

Mr Smith, who was married to Zina, was made an honorary president of Somerset Cricket Club after he was succeeded by Richard Scott.

Numerous tributes poured in after news of Mr Smith’s passing spread through the Island and cast a dark cloud over the West End community, which has been left in a “state of shock”.

His death was announced by Premier Michael Dunkley at the close of Friday’s House of Assembly, and sympathies for Mr Smith’s family dominated condolences in this morning’s session, with MPs on both sides commending his lifetime of contribution to Bermuda and her people — young people in particular.

“I think everybody is still in shock trying to come to grips with all that has happened that words can’t explain, really,” Alfred Maybury, Somerset’s presiding president, said.

“Colin was a mainstay for all of us and, outside of him being president of Somerset Cricket Club, he was also a lifelong friend, so this is a very difficult thing to handle.

“This is a major loss for Somerset. Even though Colin hasn’t been president for a while, he has been present and has always had the interest of the club and knows everything that’s going on; not only in the club, but in the Somerset area.

“This is a major loss for the organisation, for the community and for his family.

“Colin was more than just the president, he was also more like the parent to a lot of the young people and was a great ambassador for Somerset.”

Mr Smith was Somerset through and through, playing junior football at the club before turning his focus to administration, serving on various committees and then rising to the rank of president. “I saw Colin growing up as a youngster up there on Hog Bay Level and I knew his father and older brothers,” Mr Bean, a fellow honorary Somerset president, said.

“When Colin took over as president it was like the beginning of a new era. He came in an era where the younger administrators did things differently and were a lot more educated than we were.

“Colin had a no-nonsense approach and that’s the way he dealt with matters. He was pretty strong-willed.

“To prove him wrong you had to go some way and if it came the other way around, he sort of shrugged it off and you more or less knew he wasn’t too happy that you were doing it.”

Marc Bean, leader of the Progressive Labour Party, also paid tribute and offered condolences regarding the late Mr Smith.

In a written statement, Mr Bean, said: “The Bermuda Progressive Labour Party joins with all of Bermuda in mourning the sudden loss of Colin “Jelly” Smith.

“His contribution to the Sandys community, to our youth, to sports and his professionalism at customs will truly be missed.

“The PLP on behalf of our MPs, senators, executive and supporters, extends our condolences and prayers to Mr Smith’s family and many friends.”