5:08pm Monday 6th July 2009
FRIENDS have paid tribute to a popular landlord who collapsed and died aged 48.
Thomas Miles was outside the pub he runs with business partner Jon Bell when he collapsed on Friday evening.
An ambulance was called but the crew was unable to save him.
He had worked at The Wheatsheaf pub in New Milton since 2007, developing it with Jon into a carvery-style pub.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Jon said: “We were outside talking, walking back towards the pub and he suddenly collapsed.
Everybody is devastated. There was no history of any illness or anything, he was very healthy.”
He said Tom’s wife Vikki and young children Robbie and Abbi were in shock and devastated by what had happened.
Jon and Tom took over the premises in Christchurch Road two years ago and before that had developed property in Southampton and then took over the Rydal Arms in New Milton. Tom had also previously run the Fox and Hounds in Lyndhurst with his wife.
The pair managed pubs in Sussex and London before that, after Tom switched from his career as a PC in the Metropolitan Police.
They moved to the New Forest from West Sussex in 1993 and during the family’s seven years there he was chairman of the Lyndhurst Chamber of Trade.
The family had recently moved into a house he had designed and redeveloped.
Jon said: “He was an amazing character.
He was a wonderful dad. The family are devastated.”
The pub was closed on Saturday in a mark of respect but reopened yesterday.
Jon added: “I’ve had messages from people that knew him years ago saying they’re shocked. He was a very outgoing type of person. He was just Tom.
“He has done a lot for the community over the years.
“He was always willing to help people out and if you had a problem you could go and speak to him.”
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