CHARLES Clark, the husband of Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, has died.

Mr Clark, who was well known in the business community in Taunton, had been battling cancer for some time.

He was chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club and one of his last appearances was at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, to congratulate long-serving batsman James Hildreth on his milestone of playing more games than anyone in the history of the club. He had been on the club's committee since 2010

Mr Clark, who passed away in the early hours of this morning (Friday), was born in Somerset and educated at Cambridge University.

He started his career with Messrs Woolley and Wallis, Chartered Surveyors in Salisbury before moving to Greenslade Taylor Hunt, Auctioneers and Chartered Surveyors, becoming a partner in 1990.

He held a variety of other posts, including chairman of the National Agricultural Valuers Association, chief land agent to the Bath and Wells Diocesan Board of Finance, past president of Western Counties Agricultural Valuers Association and a trustee of both the A H Warren Trust and The Somerset Community Foundation, while he served on the council at King's College, Taunton.