Mr Brown, who was 62, died suddenly in Lanzarote on Bank Holiday Monday.

He has at home on the island, having retired from running Clarke's newsagents in Bridge Street with his wife, Mini (61), six years ago. He was also well known for running Fobey's disco.

The couple's daughter Lucy Chase had been with Denver Hockey Club at Downham Festival's carnival day when she was told the sad news.

She flew out to the Canaries with her husband, Andrew (35), from London's Gatwick airport on Tuesday.

A post mortem will be carried out before Mr Brown can come back to Downham, for a funeral to take place.

Speaking to the Lynn News from Lanzarote, Mrs Chase (27), of Downham, said her father was born in Hilgay and used to play football for the village in his younger days. He was also a former captain at Denver's Ryston Park Golf Club.

Her parents, who also retained a home in Bridge Street, Downham, had been married 40 years and recently enjoyed the trip-of-a-lifetime to Australia and New Zealand to celebrate their ruby wedding next month.

She said: "The family would like to thank everybody for their messages of support and sympathy. They are all devastated by his sudden passing. He was a very well known and likeable character within the local community. His outgoing, helpful and friendly personality will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him."

Clarke's was taken over by Mr Shimit Patel and is now KP and Sons. Mr Patel said on Wednesday Mr Brown was a gentleman who, during the transition, had been very helpful and still regularly popped in on a daily basis.

His death had been a shock. "He was a nice man. He used to help us out with odd jobs.

"I was only talking to him last week and now he's gone. He will be missed," said Mr Patel.

Customers at the shop – which sells greetings cards, toys, stationery and alcohol – had been "sad and upset" by the news, said Mr Patel, the premises previously having been in Mrs Brown's family.

The funeral will be arranged through Downham firm A.J. Coggles in due course.