Robert Allerton

He had a passion for the catering industry gaining a B.Sc at Sheffield Hallam University. He then travelled and taught English in Taiwan before returning to the UK and becoming manager of Wineways off licence, in Leeds.

After nearly a year, he moved in 2002 to Matthew Clark in York, and spent three years extending his enthusiasm for business development and customer service.

He joined Hatch Mansfield in 2005 as regional sales manager looking after the independent retail sector, wholesale and Matthew Clark, developing new business and achieving impressive results.

The foundations he laid meant that even during his illness his business continued growing.

He had the same positive approach to his illness as he did to his work, describing his two year battle as his "journey". Every turn in that battle was an opportunity to learn and improve his knowledge of himself, so he could emerge from each setback a stronger person.

Mr Allerton, who was based in Baildon, died in the Marie Curie Hospice, in Bradford, where again he displayed his professionalism, sensitivity and humour particularly when organising watering of the plants, or Christmas lunch and wine pairings for his carers' only a week earlier.

Mark Calver, Hatch Mansfield Sales Director said: "The UK wine industry will be the worse for having lost Bob.

"He was known by many in the North of England both in the Off-Trade and the On-Trade.

"He was deep yet funny, he was serious yet easy going, and he had a passion for both customer service and business in general. He continued to challenge us to follow up his leads which were often phoned through from the hospice."

Patrick McGrath, Hatch Mansfield managing director, added: "Bob will be much missed by all of us.

"He was hugely popular with everyone who loved his charm and wit. He was an excellent salesman, hard working and very professional.

"The fact that so many of his customers have kept in touch during his long fight is testament to how much he was loved and respected by so many of them."

Mr Allerton is survived by his wife Kirstie, and young sons, Lucas, three, and Toby one.