A POPULAR Hampshire musician and jeweller has died following a long illness.

Coming from a celebrated musical family his cousin Mike was a founding member of Manfred Mann Nick Hug, pictured, was 54.

For the past 20 years his various bands including Deaf Boy Hug and the Hearing Aids along with Something for the Weekend have given pleasure to thousands of music lovers up and down the country.

He was an accomplished harmonica and keyboard player and played the guitar in the Smiling Hard band, whose members went on to work with the likes of Queen and George Michael.

For many years Mr Hug was an employee of Pye Records, which enabled him to chaperone a host of international stars on the media circuit of radio and TV interviews.

Later, he joined his cousin Brian in the family business, Hug Jewellers of Gosport, in the town where he lived.

A close family friend said: "Nick will be remembered for his constant grin and cheerful attitude to life."

He is survived by his wife Caroline, sister Jane and children Lara, Nathan, Lizzie and Sam.