TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular Malvern businessman who drowned in a tragic accident on holiday.

Nick Waller, aged 48, who ran Edith Walk-based Waller and Waller Opticians, died on Sunday, November 27, while in Aberdovey, Wales, with his wife Karen.

Mrs Waller spoke of her desperate attempts to save her “beautiful” and “absolutely wonderful” husband, after he waded into the sea to help their pet dog, by dragging him from the water with the help of a passer-by.

She said: “The last thing he said to me was, ‘My jacket is too heavy’.

“I had the dog going one way and I probably took my eyes off him for a second and the next minute I knew he seemed to be floating on top of the water.

“He was beautiful, very sociable and absolutely wonderful. He had lots and lots of friends and was loved by everyone.

“So many people have phoned up really quite tearful. It’s just been totally exhausting.”

Mr Waller attended Malvern College and studied in Reading before joining the family business alongside his father Hugh in 1982.

Mr Waller was also a regular in the Chase Inn, Upper Colwall, where a get-together in his memory was held this week.

The pub’s manager, Andy Lannie, said: “He has been a good friend for a long time.

“It has shocked everybody and it’s about trying to get to grips with it at the moment.

“I found him to be a very warm, generous and charming person. He was always willing to help our family and was a great friend to our children.

“Something like this out of the blue is awful.

“Our thoughts are with his wife and both sets of families. I genuinely thought the original phone call was someone winding me up.

“Nick was a fantastic guy and very well liked.

“We thought it would be a good idea to get people together and get some of that grief out of the way.”

Mr Waller was also a founding member of the pub’s Chasers cricket team in 1996.

His family hope to hold a memorial service at Malvern College Chapel where he and Karen married in September 2005.