A FORMER bar owner from Colchester has died in France, aged 40.

Ben Smart, of Maldon Road, Colchester, fell ill in Chamonix on January 4 and died in hospital in France with his parents, Bryn and Jane, at his bedside on January 21.

Mr Smart was the former owner of Roberto’s wine bar in Colchester and spent many years overseas working in the hospitality industry.

A former pupil of St Thomas More’s Primary School and St Joseph’s College, Ipswich, Mr Smart also attended catering college at Colchester Institute.

He then moved to Europe to work in the hospitality industry, before returning to his home town in 1995 to take over Roberto’s bar, in Crouch Street, with his brother, Patrick.

They ran it together until 1999, when Ben sold his interest in the bar to Patrick’s future wife, Fran. Mr Smart then returned to Europe, working in various countries, including eight years in Puerto Del Carmen, in Lanzarote.

Periodically returning to work in Colchester, Mr Smart thenmade his home in France, working in the ski resorts of Meribel and Chamonix.

A memorial page for him on Facebook, set up by his sisters Holly and Anna, had more than 1,000 “likes” just eight hours after it was posted.

The Smart family has received messages of support from all over the world.

Ben’s sister Holly said: “Every message we have received has talked of Ben’s warmth and kindness and how he touched so many lives in such a profound way.

“Ben was one of life’s genuinely nice guys who would do anything for anyone.

“His death is heartbreaking for us all. The love that has been shown for him from all corners of the world has been comforting for us – we know there were so many that loved him as we did and will continue to do so.”

Ben leaves his parents, Bryn and Jane, his brother Patrick, sisters Holly and Anna, sisterin- law Fran and nephew Killian, brother-in-law Colin, niece Amelia and nephew Oliver.

The family has yet to confirm funeral arrangements and will name a charity for donations in his memory on the Facebook page set-up for Ben, which can be found at facebook.com/bensmart74