TRIBUTES have been paid to a former soldier, rugby club chairman, businessman and Conservative.

Stephen “Fozzy” Foster, who was a director of A&B Taxis, in Basildon, chairman of Basildon Rugby Club and Essex Youth vice-chairman for rugby, has died from a brain tumour, aged 59.

The grandfather-of-four joined the Royal Green Jackets as a boy soldier and infantrymen from the regiment’s replacement, the Rifles, are expected to attend his funeral, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Laindon Link, Basildon, on Tuesday.

His widow, Sharon Greenland- Foster, 57, said: “He was tenacious, assertive, strong and fair and really had a passion for life.

“I don’t remember a time in our 27 years together when he felt down. He was so positive and outgoing.

“He was so proud to have served in the Army for Queen and country.”

Mr Foster, who lived in Littlebury Green, Felmores, joined the Royal Green Jackets aged 15 and served in Northern Ireland from 1970 to 1986.

A regimental bugle player from the Rifles is expected to play his coffin in and out of the church next week.

After leaving the Army, Mr Foster and business partner Gary Brand bought A&B Taxis in Basildon, with Mr Foster remaining as director until 2013.

The father-of-four played as a prop for Basildon and Billericay ruby clubs and went on to serve as chairman of Basildon Rugby Club from 1999 to 2005.

He was also Essex Youth vicechairman for rugby from 2001 to 2003.

Mr Foster was a prominent Freemason and stood for election to Basildon Council as a Conservative candidate, in Nethermayne, in May 2010, and again in a by-election there, in July 2010.

He ran the London and Berlin marathons for charity, trekked to the base camp of Mount Everest in aid of the charity Scope and visited David Lloyd and Club Kingswood gyms almost every day.

His cancer diagnosis, after a seizure in October 2013, shocked friends and family.

Surgeons removed the tumour and he underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the fast-growing cancer returned.

Mrs Greenland-Foster said: “He was incredibly valiant. He got through the treatment, but it had no effect.”