A daughter has paid loving tribute to her Elvis fan dad, who worked hard all his life to look after his family.

Pat Wheeler died of heart complications at the family home in Ham at the beginning of the month, aged 72.

Mr Wheeler was born in Poplar, east London, but was moved to Surrey during the Second World War.

He spent three years travelling the globe with the Navy, visiting places such as South Africa, Portugal and Spain before returning to Kingston to take up a job with British Petroleum (BP).

His daughter Kelly Marie, 24, has described her rock and roll-mad dad as a “true family man” who could always be relied upon to help his children.

She said: “He was not the sort of man that wanted to be the centre of attention all the time. He did not have to be the focus of everything but he kept us all together. But when you needed him he was always there. He would do anything to help us when we were in trouble.”

For the latter part of Mr Wheeler’s life he worked as a window cleaner around Kingston and Chessington, continuing his round right up until his death.

A skilled handyman with a good sense of humour, he also had a number of hidden talents including a passion for painting and drawing.

Kelly Marie said: “He was very well known in the area as a proud, hard working family man who loved Elvis and all the rock and roll singers.

“We all became mad Elvis fans and even had our family Elvis song, American Trilogy, which will always remind me of him.”

The funeral, a private affair for close friends and family, will be held in Kingston on Friday, December 16.