THE family of a Dawlish Warren hotelier who has passed away at the age of 85 have remembered him as ‘a true gentleman’.

Known to family and friends as Geoff, the Langstone Cliff Hotel’s Geoffrey Rogers sadly passed away on May 5.

Born in Exeter in 1939 to Stanley and Marjorie, who, at the time, ran a fish and chip shop in the city, Geoff took charge of the Langstone in 1970 following his parents’ passing.

Stanley and Marjorie purchased the Langstone in 1946 for £4,500 - Geoff was just six years old and his sister, Gilly, not even a year old.

The Langstone opened to the public the following year.

Geoff grew up in hotel life and worked in the family business as soon as he was old enough, aside from a short stint in the services, which he left after his father, Stanley, began to suffer with heart problems.

Geoff returned to the Langstone to take on more responsibility.

It has been owned and managed by the Rogers family ever since, with Geoff, alongside wife Gerry, at the helm, with help from their children and other members of the family.

From a modest 12 bedroom establishment, the couple transformed the hotel into what it is today, a 64 bedroom gem of a hotel set in South Devon’s crown.

A family affair for more than 78 years, the legacy built by Geoff at the Langstone will live on through his children, Mark, Simon, Louise, Vicky and Suzy, all five of whom work at the hotel, as do a number of Geoff’s grandchildren and son-in-law.

Daughter Louise, who is the General Manager at Langstone, remembers her father as ‘a true gentleman’.

‘There are not a lot of people in Dawlish who didn't know my dad, most of whom have worked for him at some time or another - he was amazing’ Louise said.

‘He was a gentleman... a true gentleman - that is the best way to describe him.

‘He was so generous, kind and he loved a party, he was a huge host, we have had thousands of returning guests and events over the years and he was instrumental in that’ Louise added.

The family has received more than 180 cards of condolence, and are expecting well over 350 people at Geoff’s ‘Celebration of Life’ on May 23; a testament to the man that was Geoff Rogers.