TRIBUTES have poured in for much-loved Southampton star Greg Gilbert.
The Delays star passed away this month aged just 44 following a years-long battle against cancer.
Stacey Heale, who married Greg in 2018, posted on her Facebook page a tribute to her husband describing him as "beautiful and extraordinary".
Greg's brother Aaron, also paid a moving public tribute to his 'best friend'.
Tributes have since poured in for the local artist and poet, with the city pulling together to pay tribute to the local pop-star.
The couple got engaged at the beginning of 2014, but did not get married as Greg was too ill.
At the time, it was thought that he was suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, but was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, which had spread to his lungs, in winter 2016.
Stacey launched a huge fundraising campaign to pay for lifesaving treatment not available on the NHS, which passed its initial £100,000 target in 48 hours, becoming one of the fastest ever campaigns on the Go Fund Me crowdfunding website.
Southampton Festivals said: "As Greg Gilbert wrote himself "Love makes a mess of dying".
"His music and his especially his creativity, spirit, and courage over the last four years will never be matched.
"All our thoughts and love goes to those he loved and left behind."
As Greg Gilbert wrote himself "Love makes a mess of dying" His music and his especially his creativity, spirit, and courage over the last four years will never be matched. All our thoughts and love goes to those he loved and left behind.
— SouthamptonFestivals (@sofests) October 1, 2021
Southampton's The Art House also paid tribute to Greg.
"We’re heartbroken to hear that Greg Gilbert has left us, Southampton doesn’t feel as brightly lit without him tonight," they said.
"Greg was a long time supporter of ours, a multi-talented musician, visual artist and poet, a gentle soul whose commitment to his art was humbling.
"We’re so grateful for the beautiful songs, drawings, paintings and poems he has left behind as he travels off to the cosmos."
My brother @GregDelays x pic.twitter.com/GMUM1pe3SK
— Aaron Gilbert (@AaronDelays) September 30, 2021
Holloway Photography added: "I’m never one for these kinda posts, but I feel like a lot of Greg’s friends - we’ve all been on this journey with you and never wanted this day to come.
"I will look back on the times we spent together, gigs, on tour, in the studio and our endless Star Wars chats with such fond memories.
"RIP my man, one more song, one more song, one more song."
We’re all really sad to hear about the passing of Greg Gilbert . He was a genuinely gifted songwriter, artist and beautiful human being and our thoughts are with his young family and Aaron and the rest of The Delays at this terrible time. Danny, Steve, Mick, Mike and Richard x x
— Embrace (@embrace) September 30, 2021
Southampton restaurant Il Picchio also paid tribute stating: "It was a great pleasure to have met and fed Greg Gilbert at our café, he nicknamed it The Cosmic Café, he would spend many hours working on ideas, reading and chatting to anyone who stopped by, he was one of the most honest and real people I have ever met.
"He and the 'rowdy boys' family and friends would spend hours talking, laughing and enjoying life, so it is with great sadness that we learned of his passing, he will be forever missed but will remain in our hearts and minds for all the joy he brought to so many people. RIP Greg Gilbert."
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