Tributes have been paid to a Shropshire jockey who narrowly missed out on Grand National glory when his horse finished in third place after leading the world famous race for most of the way.

Roy Edwards, of Blakeley Court Farm, Stanton-upon-Hine Heath, near Shawbury, died on December 6, aged 77 following a long battle with illness.

His wife of more than 50 years, Susan, today paid tribute to Mr Edwards, calling him a “hard-working” and “conscientious” man whose main ambition was to win the hallowed race as a jockey.

She said her husband rode in seven Grand Nationals at Aintree, but it was in 1964 when he came so close to fulfilling his dream and clinching the biggest prize in National Hunt racing.

“He always said his ambition would have been to win the Grand National,” she said. “He never quite managed it but we have recently acquired the video footage from 1964 when he came so close.

“When you watch it you see Roy led the race from the start but slipped back near the very end with only two or three fences left to go. His horse just ran out of energy.

“He was in the top three or four jockeys for about 10 years and when you see the clip you can’t believe he doesn’t go on to win it.”

Mr Edwards was born and raised in Llanfechain, near Oswestry, and went on to become a horse trainer in later life.

He met his future wife at a dance in Oswestry. They have three children and six grandchildren. The family still breed horses and also farm and rear turkeys.

Mrs Edwards said: “He was really devoted to the horses, his farm and his family. Horses were his passion since he was a boy and he started out working with show ponies.

“He became involved in point-to-point racing and rode so well he turned professional in 1959.

“He rode more than 500 winners including Saucy Kit, which he rode to victory at the Cheltenham Festival Champion Hurdle in 1967.

“Once you get into horses it becomes addictive and he loved the animals.”

The funeral service will be held at 2.30pm on Thursday at St Andrew’s Church, Stanton-upon-Hine Heath.

By Tom Johannsen