THERE has been an outpouring of love for a singer with a unique voice who has died at home near Wiveliscombe.

Shaun Michael, 76, came to England from his native Northern Ireland to escape The Troubles.

His widow Jayne Wyatt, from Croford, said Shaun was a shy man lacking in self confidence who bought joy to thousands of people with his incredible voice.

In England, he initially worked in a car factory in Swindon, but gave that up after a pub landlord heard him singing and immediately hired him to perform at weekends.

"He earned more money in a weekend than working all week in the factory, so gave up his job and turned professional," said Jayne.

Shaun then set up the Shamrock Music Club, which was run by Jayne and saw him performing in 22 shows a year for over three decades, promoting a love of Irish country music.

He always had a desire to take some of the many admirers of his music to Ireland, leading to the couple establishing Good Time Holidays.

Jayne organised everything in their front room and in 1996 they set off for Ireland with 10 coachloads of people for a three-day break.

"It wasn't long enough and we organised longer country music trips over 24 years," said Jayne. "He'd take seven or eight bands with us.

"We were in Glencar, near Killarney on one occasion and were booked in the local pub, which also housed the garage, the post office, shop and bank.

"It was too small, so we set up outside, with people dancing in the road, people stopping their cars and getting out to join in, children getting off a coach to do Irish dancing and a woman dancing with a broom.

"We went all over the place - Spain, Portugal, Scotland, Wales, the north of England and East Anglia and we had weekends in Barnstaple where people came from all over the country. Every hotel said it was the highlight of the year."

Shaun loved his music from an early age after his older brother bought him his first guitar.

"He had a voice that was the sweetest, the best," said Jayne. "There's never been a voice like Shaun's.

"He was a shy man, but singing gave him a persona that perhaps he didn't naturally have the confidence to show.

"But he was very much in people's worlds. He was a purveyor of good times.

"People loved Shaun and he would always spend time talking to everybody.

"I've had so many people ringing me up saying how much they loved Shaun."

Shaun, who leaves two sons from a previous relationship, died peacefully on September 22.

A service of celebration is being held at St Andrew's Church, Wiveliscombe, on Monday, October 16 at 2.30pm, with arrangements by funeral director Anthony James.