Tributes have been paid following the death of Iva Hall, one of the founders of Thornbury Rugby Club.

Iva and four friends met in The Swan pub in 1962 to form a committee with the object of creating a rugby club.

The club formed a year later and Iva was a mainstay there ever since, acting as treasurer for 44 years, running the line and continuing to raise funds for the club until recently.

Dave Fox, honorary secretary of Thornbury RFC, said: "If it was not for the hard work, determination and vision of Iva, along with Alan Hodgkinson, Alan Drinkald, Mike Jeffries and Cliff Barrington, Thornbury Rugby Football Club would not exist.

"They were greatly focussed on providing a rugby club for the growing population of Thornbury and in 1963 the club was formed, beginning their history with a match against Whitehall on the Mundy Playing Fields. Sadly, only Alan Hodgkinson remains from the Famous Five.

"Iva Hall was a great character. Although a rugby man predominantly, he will be greatly missed in Thornbury, Bristol and Gloucestershire generally."

Iva's contribution to rugby has been recognised on several occasions and he has received awards from national and county rugby organisations.

Away from rugby Iva was a senior aero engine designer with Rolls Royce in Filton and had to temporarily suspend his retirement to assist solving problems with the dust-filled engines of RAF Tornado aircraft during the Gulf War.