SOME knew him as the Gentle Giant, others as the fittest man in Hereford, but for thousands of young people he was the most caring doorman ever to look after their interests at city nightspots.

The news of the sudden death of Calvin Macintyre at the age of 52 has shocked all who knew him, both in the field of entertainment, and in the realms of sport, where he excelled.

Calvin, from Redhill, died doing what he liked best, cycling and preparing for another fundraising charity event for which he was famous.

As part of the training he had cycled to Brecon and was on the return journey to Hereford when he collapsed and died at Letton Hill last Thursday afternoon.

Only minutes earlier he had stopped to phone his wife Margaret to say he would be home for tea.

In past years Calvin had been employed at Thorne Lighting and Nalge and more recently at Bulmers.

For more than 30 years he had worked as a doorman, being the Saturday night face for generations of youngsters enjoying life in the city.

He started at the Greyhound Dog and moved on to Olivers, Jacqueline's at Ross-on-Wye and Park Hall in Wormelow.

But he was best known at Marilyns, now Dusk, where he worked for a long period before setting up his own security agency and running the door at Play Nightclub in Blueschool Street, owned by one of his best friends, Billy Reynolds.

They had met in 1981 at Hereford boxing club. Calvin, 6ft 4in and 17 stone, boxed as a heavyweight for Hereford and at the club he quickly took Billy and his friends under his wing, helping and encouraging them in the sport.

"He was the most honest and trustworthy person I have ever worked with, a true professional," said Billy, who described his friend as a Gentle Giant whose death had come as a shock to everyone.

A committed runner, Calvin took part in many marathons, being a regular in the John Tarrant 50-mile road race and earned such respect that on one occasion the start was delayed for 15 minutes so that he could nip home to collect the favourite running shoes he had forgotten.

Over the years Calvin devoted much time to fundraising events for charity, running, cycling, canoeing and swimming.

A couple of weeks ago he cycled from the source of the River Wye to Hay-on-Wye, canoed to Hereford and then ran and walked to Ross-on-Wye where he was greeted by the mayor for another good cause.

And it was while preparing for yet another one, this time an "Iron Man" event for charity, that he was to meet his untimely death.

Calvin is survived by his wife Margaret.

His funeral service will take place at St Martins Church, Hereford tomorrow (Friday) at 2.15pm.