Strongman and shot-putter Geoff Capes who grew up in Holbeach and lived in Stoke Rochford near Grantham dies

Legendary strongman Geoff Capes died today, aged 75.

A family statement read: "The family of Geoffrey Capes would like to announce his sad passing today, 23rd October.

"Britain’s finest shot-putter and twice world’s strongest man."

Geoff grew up in Holbeach and went to the local secondary school.

He became a member of Holbeach Athletic Club where he was coached by Stuart Storey. He was a gifted sportsman, and represented the county at basketball, football and cross-country.

After school Geoff worked as a coalman and an agricultural labourer, “being able to load 20 tons of potatoes in 20 minutes” according to his website. He joined Cambridgeshire Constabulary in 1970, and remained in the police for 10 years.

He went on to win gold medals in the European Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games during his shot-putt career.

His first victory came in the World's Strongest Man event in 1983 in Christchurch, and the second was two years later in Cascais.

The three-time Olympian was also honoured in the World’s Strongest Man hall of fame in 2018.

He lived in Stoke Rochford, near Grantham and was a well-known face across the South Lincolnshire area, attending many local sporting events.

His daughter Emma was English Schools’ shot put champion and Youth Olympics bronze medallist and his son Lewis, who lives in Morton near Bourne, played American football for the London Monarchs. Geoff also leaves four grandchildren and his grandsons have also followed in his sporting footsteps.

Aside from sport, Geoff had a love of animals which led to him becoming famed for breeding budgerigars. In 2008 he assumed the role of president of the Budgerigar Society, along with Mick Widdowson who is also a keen budgie breeder and friend.

He had previously been a magistrate in the area and was a charity supporter, having been an ambassador for the Butterfly Hospice Trust, which is located in Boston but covers the whole of South Lincolnshire.

He also founded The Geoff Capes Foundation, which aimed to raise funds to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people by providing them opportunities to participate in sport and other activities.

In 2018, he gave an interview with the Spalding Guardian in which he said he had asked his former sports coach Stuart Storey what “he would put on my gravestone. He replies that it would have to say 'local boy done good'.”

Tributes have already been paid on social media, with many calling him a “legend” in the local area.

If you wish to pay tribute to Geoff, email: news@lincsonline.co.uk or share your tributes in the comments below.