A member at Ilford Golf Club described as a “big character” has died following a heart attack.

John Elmore, 61, a member for five years at the club in Wanstead Park Road, Ilford, died on Monday night after battling bowel cancer.

Mr Elmore, a cab driver who lived in Barking, was “very popular” at the club, according to its captain, Ian Morgan.

Mr Morgan said: “He will be deeply missed.

“He was quite a big bloke.

“He used to drive a golf buggy around and he was very accident prone. “We used to have quite a laugh about that. “The buggy kept breaking down and he’d have to push it back.”