Friends and relatives spoke yesterday about the kind-hearted Eugene Lloyd (Josh) Smith and described him as a fun-loving man who liked nothing more than to be around people.

Every single person gathered outside Hamilton Parish Workmen's Club yesterday morning after hearing the news of his brutal death said they could think of no reasons why anybody would have wanted to kill the man known as "Uncle Josh".

The 57-year-old had been the caretaker at nearby Francis Patton School for 14 years, and could regularly be seen helping the youngsters across the busy road when school started and finished.

And his friends said they could not have a conversation with the father-of-three without him talking about the students he took care of at the school.

Mr. Smith's ex-wife, Maxine Smith, said she had stayed on friendly terms with her former husband after their divorce 16 years ago, and spoke to him just a couple of weeks ago.

She said: "He had always worked, and he had always worked hard.

"For a number of years he worked as a porter at the airport, but then went to work for Government and had worked for them since at Francis Patton School for a number of years.

"Everybody knew him down here - he was born and raised in Crawl and it was the place he loved. He was a very nice man. He had no enemies."

Mrs. Smith said the couple's three sons, Derrick, Jamel and Davel, aged between 25 and 34, had been hit hard by the news of his death, but they were bearing up under the strain.

"They are okay. They have their memories now," she added.

Niece De-Ann Minks was gathered with a group of family members outside the workmen's club yesterday. She said: "He was a joker. He loved his family to death, as well as his extended family. He was always helping somebody.

"Uncle Josh never bothered anybody. He had a kind heart. He loved taking care of the children, and the children loved him. Everybody loved him."

Friends comforted each other yesterday with memories of times they went fishing with Mr. Smith, or played sport with him.

A spin bowler for Hamilton Parish Workmen's Club cricket team, Mr. Smith was known across the Island, and held friends in many circles.

As well as working at the school, he also worked evenings at Baileys Bay and Hamilton Parish clubs, and used to prepare and maintain St. George's Cricket Club field for cricket.

For a time, he was thought to have carried out similar duties at Somerset Cricket Club field.

Friend Mervin Warner fondly remembered the time he went to Jamaica with the murder victim.

He said: "I think this is very sad because he was not a person to trouble anyone. I had known him all my life - for more than 40 years.

"I have no idea why someone would do this. He was a peacemaker. He was very well known and all the kids used to call him Uncle Josh.

"I figure it has to have been done by someone who knew him because everyone knew him - but I don't know the reason why."

Yesterday, principal at Francis Patton School Gloria Martin passed the school's deepest sympathies on to the Smith family.

She said: "We, the Francis Patton School family, are saddened and shocked by the sudden and untimely death of our Uncle Josh.

"He was truly our guardian angel. He was dedicated to the children and staff in every possible way. He was a `trumpeter' for Francis Patton Primary School.

"The students, staff, parents, friends and the Bailey's Bay community have not only lost a true friend, but a dedicated father figure, who unselfishly gave of himself.

"He will truly be missed by us all. Our sincere condolences are extended to his family and friends."

Another of Mr. Smith's niece's, who did not wish to be named, said she was tired of the trouble and violence around the Island.

She said: "People have had enough. It's time for it to stop. Somebody else is going to be hurt - and it is the wrong person that is going to get hurt. It always is. There is sorrow in Hamilton Parish today."