“HIS cuddles, his presence, just him being here, that’s what I’ll miss most,” said Linda, the widow of Ciro ‘Cyril’ Cinquegrani, who died in his sleep the day before their 43rd wedding anniversary.

The 60-year-old, who lived in Portsmouth Street, died unexpectedly on May 5 from a heart disorder despite otherwise being fit and healthy.

“He wasn’t just my husband, he was my best friend. He was my soul mate,” Linda said. “I just miss him so much. I miss him terribly.

“I keep expecting him to walk back in.

“I go over to the funeral directors to see him and he just looks like he is asleep. I keep think he is going to open his eyes and wake up.”

She said his death came as a complete shock to the family.

“I woke up at about 12.30am and he was a bit restless, and I asked if he was ok,” said Linda. “That was the last time I talked to him.

“I woke up again at about 4.10am, I don’t know why. I think it was because Ciro was always a loud snorer, and he wasn’t snoring, so I asked him if he was alright.

“He didn’t say anything, and I touched his face. That is when I knew he had gone.”

Linda ran across the road to bang on the front door of her son’s house, and the paramedics were called.

But although they tried to resuscitate him they were unable to bring him round.

Linda said: “I can’t fault them, they worked really hard, but it was clear he was gone.”

The childhood sweethearts met at The Moonrakers when they were just 16, and were married in 1972.

“He was going out with my best friend at the time and I was going out with his best friend, but neither of them worked out,” said Linda.

“We started going out and it went from there really.”

Ciro, who was born in Naples, Italy, first moved to Swindon as one of a family of 11 as a child.

Two years ago he retired from a 35-year career as a dustman with Swindon Borough Council.

“Everyone knew him,” said Linda.

“He was a great football supporter, he loved Man United. And he enjoyed going to the bingo.”

Ciro leaves behind his children Rachael, Vince, Esther, Lucia and Maria and five grandchildren.

Ciro will lie in state at Holy Rood Catholic Church from 4pm on Thursday (May 21).

His requiem mass will take place on Friday from noon followed by a private burial at Kingsdown Cemetery. Any enquiries call A. E. Smith & Son in Queens Drive on 01793 522023