POPULAR Minsterworth butcher Phil Greening – whose son and namesake was the Gloucester and England rugby star – has died suddenly aged 62.

Phil passed away in his sleep at the family home Placketpool where his father Tom had farmed all his life – and he and his sister Mary were born.

She paid tribute to the "soft gentle giant" who always looked out for her when she was a youngster.

"Phil was always there for me. He was a wonderful gentle giant of a man," she said.

They both went to Minsterworth CofE Primary School and later Longlevens Secondary.

Phil trained as a butcher with Baxters, in Gloucester High Street, where he met his wife Pat.

He subsequently worked at Lyes butchers shop in Minsterworth, eventually taking over the business.

In April, 1974 Phil married Pat, who had two sons and two daughters by a previous marriage whom he adopted as his own.

The couple went on to have son Phil, who became a rugby star playing for Gloucester and England, and later Sale and Wasps.

They followed their famous son's career across the world. The 35-year-old now coaches rugby at London Welsh.

There are several grandchildren.

A keen skittles player, Phil ran the Elvers team for 44 years as its captain, based at the Bird in Hand pub (now the Severn Bore).

Only on Friday night he won the President's Cup in a Minsterworth Royal British Legion members' tournament.

Childhood friend Malcolm Pobjoy, of Birdwood, who organised the match said: "Everybody adored Phil. We grew up together, we played together. I am godfather to his son Phil.

"He was a smashing man and he was always there for his family."

A funeral is expected to be held next week at the local parish church.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish the cause of death.