Friends and family have today paid fond tribute to Mr Good, pictured, who organised the annual show with his wife Val.

The couple were to receive honourary townspeople badges next month from Wem Town Council.

Wem mayor Councillor Peggy Carson said Mr Good was very well respected and would be sadly missed.

She said: “He put Wem on the map with the Sweet Pea Show. He was a very modest man and never wanted praise for what he had done.

“It was his ambition in life to make the Sweet Pea Show the success it has been. He was a gentleman and he will be greatly missed.

“He was a good friend and he was very well liked by everybody who came into contact with him.

“On behalf of Wem Town Council we are all greatly saddened and send our sympathy to his family. Val and John were due to be presented with honourary townspeople badges from the town council on November 25 and it is just really sad that he won’t be here to receive it.

“We are all very upset – he was the driving force behind the Eckford Sweet Pea Show.”

Former Wem mayor and family friend, John Cobbold, added: “I have known John and Val since they introduced the people of Wem to the sweet pea in 1987.

“He was one of the best and I am sure he will be sadly missed.”

Mr Good’s family today thanked all the people who had helped them. Mrs Good said: “We wish to thank everybody for all the support they have given John and ourselves over the last 18 months.”