Tributes have been paid to businessman, football enthusiast and family man Gordon Howard who died yesterday after a fire engulfed his Warwick home.

Mr. Howard originally hailed from Liverpool, in England, and moved to Bermuda to work as a Police officer many years ago.

He later forged a career in finance, in the area of trusts in particular, and had retired before his death.

Outside of work he was a well-known member of the local football scene. He established the BAA Wanderers team in 1979, and played for the club as well as coaching the team.

President John Doran said last night: "It's very sad. He was instrumental in starting the commercial league team at BAA. I didn't meet him, but from what I was told he was great in what he did for the club as a coach. He was up on the wall of fame at the clubhouse."

In 2005, Mr. Howard was one of a three-man consortium that took over the English Conference football club Kidderminster Harriers.

He told this newspaper he was a passionate fan of Everton football club, but had family in the Kidderminster area of the West Midlands and visited frequently.

Kidderminster Harriers posted a note of condolence on its website yesterday, saying Mr. Howard remained a regular visitor, despite living in Bermuda, and was a significant contributor financially.

"His sudden death is a huge shock to everyone connected with the club and our thoughts at this time are with his family and friend," said the statement.

Club Chairman Barry Norgrove added: "Gordon was a tremendous fellow and we hit it off instantly when we first met five or six years ago.

"We'd been good friends ever since and got on ever so well — this really is a terrible shock. He has been a tremendous servant to the club over the last few years and we will truly miss him.

"My condolences and those of the board and club as a whole are entirely with Gail, his wife, and his family and friends."

The team will hold a minute's silence for Mr. Howard on Tuesday before their first home game of the season against Southport.

Mr. Howard was also a member of Riddell's Bay golf club. General Manager Dennis Paul said the club was in shock yesterday, but he did not wish to speak about the tragedy out of respect for the victim's family.

Mr. Howard worked for the Bank of Bermuda's trust department for 20 years before leaving in 1993 to become managing director of Grosvenor Management.

His long-time colleague at the bank, Bill Thomson, has known him for 30 years.

"He came to the Island as a Policeman. Then he worked at the Bank of Bermuda for many years and he was in the trust department and brought a considerable amount of trust business to Bermuda," he explained last night.

"He then left the bank with a fellow named Norman Holbrow. They formed Grosvenor Trust Company. I do not know how long he has been retired but he was a very talented trust administrator and had a wide knowledge of the international trust business.

"He was a very serious businessman and a very knowledgable international trust man who enticed business to the Island."

Mr. Thomson said Mr. Howard "lived a very quiet life" and was close to his daughters Claire, a talented show jumper, and Jennifer, who has battled cancer.

"He was a family man. He liked golf and was a member of the Riddell's Bay Golf Club," he explained.

Another of Mr. Howard's neighbours, who did not wish to give her name, told The Royal Gazette she was in shock after learning of his death.

"He was just a family man and obviously loved his animals. We would see him walking on the golf course with his dogs in the evening. It's just tragic," she said.