TRIBUTES have been paid to a beloved grandfather, sportsman and prominent community figure as a lasting legacy to his memory was unveiled.
A defibrillator has been installed in an old telephone box in the village of Milbourne in memory of a former Malmesbury Town Council clerk Phil Rice, who died unexpectedly from a heart attack in February last year aged 76.
The Milbourne resident was due to fly to Sri Lanka with his wife Jilly but suddenly contracted sepsis from a urine infection.
Mr Rice was admitted to intensive care at the Great Western Hospital around 4am and sadly died just under 24 hours later.
"When I saw him on the Monday night he said 'I am coming home tomorrow, the antibiotics are working I am feeling better', but it wasn't to be," said Mrs Rice.
"He had a cardiac arrest as his body couldn't cope with the sepsis and infection."
Malmesbury League of Friends decided to dedicate its latest life-saving defibrillator - which can be found in Milbourne Lane, Milbourne - to continue Mr Rice's legacy of supporting the community.
The former bank manager moved to the area nearly four decades ago when he started working as a commercial mortgage arrears manager for Zurich Insurance in Swindon, where he travelled up and down the country helping failing businesses keep afloat.
During retirement he became town clerk at Malmesbury Town Council and also became a trustee with both Malmesbury League of Friends and Malmesbury Area Community Trust.
A keen sportsman, he was heavily involved in the Swindon Robins motorcycle speedway team and was also a member of Cirencester Phoenix Walking Football Club.
Last summer the walking football club decided to organise a tournament at Kingshill School in Cirencester in his memory.
More than 300 people attended his funeral.
Phil was absolutely wonderful and did so much for Malmesbury," said Mrs Rice.
"He was so humble about everything he did, if he heard about the defibrillator I don't think he would believe it.
"He would be completely blown away.
"It is so lovely that people wanted to do something to carry on his name.
"It was David Hide from Malmesbury League of Friends who decided that this defibrillator should be dedicated to Phil, which was wonderful.
"Phil was the most kind and thoughtful person and his family meant everything to him.
"Everyone says he was a top-bloke.
"The respect everybody had for him was just wonderful, and he is very much missed by the whole community."
This is the 22nd defibrillator the league of friends has installed in the Malmesbury area.
League chair Mr Hide said: "We are delighted to have worked with another local parish council to enable it to have access to this potentially life-saving equipment."
Malmesbury St Paul's Without Parish Council chairman Roger Budgen said: "We are very grateful to Malmesbury League of Friends and to be able to dedicate the defibrillator to Phil Rice, a wonderful resident who did so much for Malmesbury."
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