WITH his huge personality, booming voice and legendary gambling, he was one of Southampton's best known characters.

Johnnie Adamou arrived from Cyprus in 1959 with only a few pounds in his pocket but built up a business empire and became one of the leading members of the city's Greek community.

Now tributes have been paid after his death at the age of 62.

Mr Adamou died of a heart attack after collapsing at an airport in Cyprus in the early hours of November 19, eight days after his birthday.

He leaves behind a widow Constantia, three sons and four grandchildren.

Arriving in Southampton as a fresh-faced 14-year-old, Johnnie soon found work at a number of city restaurants, including the Empire restaurant in Oxford Street, where a love for food - especially fish - developed.

The business-minded youngster soon started selling fresh fish from the back of his van, supplying many of the city's top restaurants.

In 1981, he opened his fish shop, Johnnie's Fisheries, in St Mary Street - and was soon known to locals as Johnnie the Fish.

Aside from fish, Johnnie's other love was for betting - so much so that in the same year as opening the shop he was declared a professional gambler by the taxman. He even hit the headlines in the Daily Echo in 1993 when he battered the bookies by netting £330,000 on the horses in just two races.

Niece Joanna Aspeling said: "He was a great character, and a fantastic salesman. He was such a generous man, often giving money to the Greek Orthodox Church, of which he was a committee member. He devoted all of his time and money to the church, and paid for most of its refurbishment."

Mrs Aspeling, who runs Johnnie's Sandwiches Unlimited opposite the fish shop, added: "He had an explosive temper, but he was so kind, funny and caring, and he had a very unusual sense of humour.

"When he walked into a room everyone would listen because his voice was so loud. He was only short - but had the voice of a giant."

Johnnie, who lived in Shirley, retired five years ago - but couldn't stay away from business, continuing to sell fruit and vegetables from his car.