THE family of a man who died following a short illness has paid tribute to the popular former landlord who they described as "always smiling".

Neil 'Eggy' Egner, 54, was born and grew up in Neston. He had four children, Kerrie Manifold (35), Danielle Egner (31), Emily Thelwell (28), Louise Egner (14), and six grandchildren.

Neil moved away for a couple of years to work in the pub trade but soon came back to Neston.

Popular in the town, Neil worked at various pubs including Neston local, The Malt Shovel, which he ran for a number of years, and The Brown Horse, before he worked at Tesco in Heswall as a retail assistant for 10 years.

Neil, described by his family as a '"pub games lad", was a big football fan and won lots of trophies in the sport. He also loved darts and pool, playing for the local teams.

On Saturday, January 21 Neil fell suddenly ill and was rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital after his best friend who he went to primary school with, Ray Wilcock, found him extremely unwell at home.

Wirral Globe: Neil when he was a young boyNeil when he was a young boy (Image: Kerrie Manifold)

Neil was put into intensive care and on the following Saturday (January 28) he died in hospital surrounded by his family.

Neil's two daughters, Kerrie and Emily, and his only sibling, Peter Egner, spoke to the Globe about the shock of Neil's death.

Peter said: "It was a really sudden thing that none of us were expecting.

"I don't think he was either."

Kerrie added: "We were all with him until the very end. He wasn't on his own."

The family went on to say how Neil was "always smiling" and was "proud" to tell his friends he had a seventh grandchild on the way.

Kerrie said: "He was very proud about having his seventh grandchild. I got a call from one of his friends yesterday to say you don't realise how proud he was.

"He's got five grandsons, so it was a family of boys which he was made up about."

Wirral Globe:

Since the death of Neil, the family says they have received hundreds of calls and messages from friends and people in the community which has "made it easier".

"It's been hard but all the comments and messages we've got have been nice," Kerrie said.

Emily added: "There has not been one bad word about him. He probably wouldn't have realised how popular he was."

Peter said: "Some of the comments are not just about how he was a great guy but it was comments like 'he did this for me' or 'he gave me a job' which are just some examples that he kept quiet.

"He was always trying to cheer people up."

The family spoke about how Neil had a great sense of humour.

Kerrie said: "With me and dad it was always a bit of banter. He had such a good sense of humour.

"You would never see him without a smile on his face."

Peter said: "He had such a wicked sense of humour. He would find light in any situation."

No funeral date has been confirmed yet for Neil.