Family and friends are celebrating the life of the former manager of Nottingham band Paper Lace, Brian Hart, who died aged 73.

His Midland Management agency had a string of successful clients, including comedy duo Little and Large, before Brian moved to Spain to run a bar in the late 1970s with his wife Maureen.

He died in Thailand, where the couple had lived for ten years, in Cha-am in the Phetchaburi province 200km south of Bangkok.

Former business partner Tony Sherwood said: "I never lost touch with Brian and spoke to him only a fortnight ago about an idea he had for a new reality show which I have been trying to sell to television.

"Although our relationship was stormy at times, I had the utmost respect for Brian. He was a very intelligent man."

Brian also managed Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough in the 1970s.

Paper Lace lead vocalist Phil Wright said: "Forest were doing very well and that led to Brian Clough needing representation. Clough became a celebrity in his own right."

Brian's son, Michael, said: "He was a real character – larger than life. He did lots of acting, especially in Spain, for little companies on the Costa del Sol and he loved that.

"And he presented on radio stations. Even when he wasn't managing people he was still involved. I think he was a thwarted thespian himself.

"Some people thought he was too much but he was a real character and very warm. He lived life to the full."

"He loved Thailand. Cha-Am is a little beach resort, it's a beautiful place and the Thai people are very friendly."

Nottingham Evening Post