A 'gentle' giant dies aged 74

A former Irish guard who took part in Trooping the Colour and guarded Buckingham Palace has died aged 74.

Tributes were today paid to "gentle giant" George Kisby, of Wednesfield in Wolverhampton.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Mr Kisby also served in Korea, where he was injured while guarding an ammunitions dump. He later worked at Weldless Steel Tube Company in Neachells Lane, Wednesfield.

His wife of 40 years Catherine, of Blackhalve Lane, said today he was well-known in the town.

"Everyone at work loved him," she said. "He was a huge man but they gave him the nickname the gentle giant. He would help anyone."

She described him as a "wonderful man who was always smiling and never had a bad word to say about anyone."

A keen gardener, Mr Kisby was well known for his beautiful flowers, especially fuchsias.

Mrs Kisby said: "He loved gardening and he loved to grow everything from seed.

"We hadn't really got much of a back garden but he had baskets, tubs and containers all over the place.

"Everybody used to stop and admire them."

One of 11 children, Mr Kisby left Northern Ireland as a teenager, moving to England before joining the Irish Guards.

This took him to the Far East before he returned to ceremonial duties, guarding Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and taking part in the Queen's birthday Trooping the Colour ceremony.

He settled in Wednesfield where he met Catherine on a blind date.

He died on May 10 at New Cross Hospital following a cancer battle. His funeral will be at 10am on Tuesday at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour RC Church, Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, then at Bushbury Crematorium.