Tributes have been paid to a long-serving pub landlord who died after losing his fight against cancer.

Bev Robbins, 60, who passed away last Thursday, was passionate about traditional pubs and a founder member of the Campaign for Real Ale.

He was due to celebrate 21 years as owner of the Hand in Hand, in Upper St James's Street, Kemp Town, Brighton, this month, where he started his own brewery 17 years ago.

He leaves behind wife Brenda, his daughter from his first marriage, Justine, 33, and granddaughter Emily, nine.

Mr Robbins was passionate about beer, cricket and his community and joined campaigns supporting the traditional local pub and to keep Kemp Town clean and free of drugs.

He was a keen letter writer to The Argus and over the years made his point on everything from chewing gum to the site of Brighton's coach station.

Mr Robbins, who was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus two years ago, was born in Haywards Heath and worked for telecommunications company ITT Creed as a factory worker until he became self-employed as an electrician.

When he met his first wife, Jill, now Jill Unwin, they moved to Brighton and in the Sixties he helped her father Norman Russell run the Battle of Trafalgar pub in Trafalgar Street, near Brighton Station.

They moved to Dorset when they were offered The New Inn in Charminster, near Dorchester. They moved back to Brighton when he was offered the job of manager of the Withdean Sportsman.

Shortly afterwards the couple broke up and Mr Robbins moved to West Byfleet in Surrey where he met his second wife, Brenda.

They were married for 23 years and moved to Brighton 21 years ago when they took over the Hand in Hand.

Mr Robbins produced his own brews from the Kemp Town Brewery, Brighton's oldest brewery. They began brewing in the small pub space in 1989, making three popular bitters, Kemp Town Bitter, Old Trout and Dragon's Blood.

Brenda, said: "He always wanted to do it, he got a great kick out of it.

"He loved traditions and was always a supporter of Sussex Cricket Club.

"He had lots of friends and was good fun, though outspoken. He didn't care who heard but nobody seemed to take offence."

Bev was the longest serving chairman of the Sussex Society of Licensed Victuallers, spending about seven years at the helm until three years ago, fighting to preserve the traditional pubs in the county.

Friend Roy Skam, who used to run the Lamb and Flag in Cranbourne Street, said: "He was a great campaigner for the ordinary person, the ordinary licensee. He was a doer."

In 2000 was involved in a campaign for a better Brighton, while he regularly complained about the litter and drugs problems in St James's Street.

Mr Robbins' funeral takes place on Thursday, August 3, at 1.30pm at Woodvale Crematorium, Lewes Road, Brighton.

Family flowers only. Donations to go to The Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign.