A business adviser who died after developing legionnaires' disease was so dedicated to his job he would walk to meetings when his condition stopped him using his car.

Graham John Crossan, 43, a father of three from Furnace Green, Crawley, had worked at Sussex Enterprise for six years.

Business development manager David Ripley said: "He will be sadly missed. Despite his illness he was always cheerful, enjoyed working hard and loved to be out visiting clients.

"He really put his heart and soul into his job."

Mr Crossan died in East Surrey Hospital on January 12, following a heart attack. His wife Elaine, 46 and son, Lee, 24, were with him.

He caught legionnaires' disease while working in Thailand in 1997 but did not realise it.

The infection damaged the inner muscle of his heart and when he returned to England he suffered breathlessness and leg pains.

Tests revealed he had the disease and his wife, who described him as her soulmate, was warned he could die.

However, he did not tell his children about his condition.

During his time at Sussex Enterprise Mr Crossan worked on projects including the new runway at Gatwick, a permanent travellers' site and a business park at Burgess Hill.

He is survived by his wife and his three children.

The funeral service is at Surrey and Sussex Crematorium today.

Thursday, January 26, 2006