Family's heartfelt tribute to Paul Myles who 'did so much' for Burgess Hill

He did everything for his beloved boys club Burgess Hill Youth and when he was at home he was a loving husband, father, and grandad.

He lost his battle with cancer last Monday (August 27), and died peacefully at Goldbridge Care Home in Haywards Heath.

His family, who have been left ‘humbled’ by the support from the community, have paid tribute to him.

Karen Myles, 68, said: “We would have been married 48 years this October. I had a wonderful 48 years of marriage, he will be dearly missed.

“We did so much as a family. We always went abroad – we went on lots of ski trips in the Alps.

“We had a lot of spontaneous holidays too. We knew we were going away but we didn’t know where we were going before we set off.

“We met when I was 17 and he was 19. We got married when I was 20. I just lost my brother too, he was the same age. I lost both of them within a week.”

Paul received care from St Peter and St James Hospice and was looked after at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. “We couldn’t fault the care at all, wherever he went he had excellent care,” added Karen.

Paul leaves behind two sons, Daniel, 44, and Matt, 42, and six grandchildren who 'loved him very much'.

Daniel, who works in the aviation industry, said he ‘battled right to the end’. He added: “He was a great man, a great husband, a great dad, and a great grandad. We had a brilliant upbringing.

“A lot of my friends looked up to him and saw him as a positive influence. He just did so much.

“It is really humbling to see all of the tributes coming in. Our dad meant the world to us and we miss him immensely.”

Matt, who works for an investment company, said: "He had such a calm temperament and he was a very positive person, which made it easy for him to deal with people from all backgrounds.

"He didn’t have an easy upbringing, he lost his mum at 18 and older brother at 21.

"He was one of those people who had to do something. The amount of time he used to spend at home working, he had so many different hats.

"He was instrumental in bringing in the skate park to Burgess Hill. He had a real passion for helping young carers and supporting and helping young people. The boys club was his life and soul.

"It makes us very proud. We knew what he had been doing for the last 30 years, but we didn’t know what impact he had had on people. Clearly our dad has left a big legacy."

Paul’s funeral will be held at St John’s Church in Burgess Hill next Thursday (September 13), at 1pm.

As it is a celebration of his life, his family have requested colours are worn to the service.

A private family service will take place after at Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground. If people would like to join the family after, they can attend The Oak Barn Restaurant in Cuckfield Road, Burgess Hill. Light refreshments will be served from 3.15pm.

Rather than flowers, the family are in the process of setting up a JustGiving page for donations to go to Burgess Hill Youth.