TRIBUTES have been paid to a former chef who raised thousands of pounds for charity.

George Edgar, 50, passed away on September 9 and was buried on September 20 at Deer Park Cemetery, Dunbar.

He had been a determined fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support, raising more than £5,000 since he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012.

His wife, Carol, led the tributes and said: “He was a loveable rogue. Honestly, he was just so happy and happy-go-lucky.

“He never once let anything get him down. He was always a joker and a character.”

The keen sports fan was diagnosed with bowel cancer before Christmas six years ago.

George, of Dunbar’s Rotary Court, underwent an operation to remove part of his colon and also endured gruelling chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, he was later told the cancer was incurable.

Despite that, George raised thousands of pounds for charity through golf, darts and football events.

And his love of sport played a key part at his funeral, with those in attendance asked to wear bright colours or sporting tops.

Carol, 46, said: “He loved golf, darts and football.”

George was previously involved with Dunbar Athletic Football Club and Callum White, who previously managed the side and is now the club’s secretary, also paid tribute to a “dedicated man”.

He said: “He was one of those guys who was more behind the scenes and would help collect the strips, the money, and make sure everything was organised.”

Hannah Renton, owner of the Royal Mackintosh Hotel, where George had worked, described the dad and grandad as “loved by all our staff”.

She said: “He was a great guy and a great head chef.

“He took on the role when we opened up and only stopped because he had to stop working.

“He was really hard working and would always go out of his way to do a lot.

“He would still pop back in to see us.

“He was a great guy and was loved by all our staff.”

Craig McLachlan, who owns Castle Park Golf Club near Gifford, where Mr Edgar was a member, also offered kind words.

A golf competition, the George Edgar Memorial Trophy, has been created.

Mr McLachlan said: “He was hugely buoyant, hugely positive. He was a character who a lot of people could learn a lot from.

“He raised a phenomenal amount for charity, even with working with us up here. I think in the short time we worked together for Macmillan we raised more than £1,000.He will be sadly missed.”

And he added: “I think it sums him up that earlier this year him and one of his good friends John Winters were going to be our charity representatives.

“We were planning a charity weekend up here and sadly George’s health overtook it.

“That is an effort we will redouble next year, partly in his memory.”