TRIBUTES have been paid to the " kind and generous" owner of Eastleigh's oldest taxi company.
Peter Kay, 72, owner of Kay's Cabs in Eastleigh, passed away in February and his wife and friends have now paid tribute to him.
Wendy Kay, Mr Kay's wife, told the Daily Echo: "Everyone who knows Pete would say he the most kind and generous person you could meet.
"He would always help everyone, never judge anybody.
Peter Kay, 72, owner of Kay's Cabs in Eastleigh
"Great sense of humour with his friends and many funny stories to be told.
"He is a legend and he is our legend."
Robert Shipp, friend of Mr Kay, said that he has known Mr Kay for 25 years and that Mr Kay has always been "a well-love man in the community".
"He always had a cheeky grin on his face," he said,
"Always had the time of day to make conversation or tell a joke."
Peter Kay, 72, owner of Kay's Cabs in Eastleigh
Born in Eastleigh, Mr Kay went to Bishopstoke Infants School and then Wyvern Senior School.
As a teenager, Mr Kay loved bikes and cars and had many jobs.
His jobs included time as an ice cream man, a bus driver and served time in the army.
He soon began work as a lorry driver and worked for Stat Transporter in Southampton where he worked on "bangers" and stock cars.
Mr Kay raced all over the south of England in his younger years.
He has a daughter from his first marriage, who lives out in Australia with her husband and Mr Kay's granddaughter.
When Pete was racing at Wimbledon he met Wendy there relationship blossomed and they married in 1982.
Peter Kay, 72, owner of Kay's Cabs in Eastleigh
They couple set up the taxi business soon after their marriage, starting with an old London cab.
Gradually, they built up their business into Kay;s Cabs.
Mr Kay has three daughters with Wendy and six grandchildren.
Mr Kay's funeral will take place on March 11 at 10.45am at Wessex Vale crematorium.
He will make his final journey accompanied by a convoy of more than 30 taxis.
The procession will meet at the slip road in Fair Oak Road before proceeding down fair oak road to Pete's home address.
From there, they will travel to the Eastleigh taxi rank and continue to the crematorium.
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