A SHOCKED business community today paid tribute to the influential John Guy who has died at York Hospital. He was 52.

The affable Mr Guy who was well known and respected as head of adviser services for Business Link York and North Yorkshire, died on Thursday after major stomach operations and a week in intensive care.

His widow, Kathy, whom he married 30 years ago, said at their home in Burn, Selby, that he showed no signs of ill health until January. He also leaves a daughter, Emma, 25.

Messages of goodwill have been pouring into the offices of Business Link York and North Yorkshire, at Monks Cross, Huntington, where chief executive Helen West said: "Everyone is devastated.

"John worked with us for ten years and his death is a huge loss to Business Link, to me personally and to all our customers, partners and intermediaries.

"He was a safe pair of hands, had huge credibility and was trusted by everyone - and trust is the mortar which binds any good business community."

Born in Hull, Mr Guy began his professional career in banking, working first for NatWest, then the TSB before joining Business Link in York, advising on banking packages. Later he was to rise through the ranks, becoming responsible for all 25 business advisors.

But the extent of his influence was huge. He was a former chairman of the North Yorkshire Export Forum, worked closely with the York Professional Initiative to promote Venturefest Yorkshire with Business Link's backing, and forged links with rural partners to help businesses recover from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2002.

He was also deeply involved in Business Link's high growth start-up programme and worked closely with Protechnica, the accountancy volunteers who help students, graduates and lecturers at York University to set up "spin-out" ventures.

All that experience combined to make him an ideal judge in The Press Business Awards, in which he played a pivotal role for years.

A keen golfer, he was treasurer of the Thorn Hurst Golf Club.

Among his golfing partners was John Yeomans, chairman of the York Profesional Initiative and chairman of the board of the inward investment organisation, york-england.com He said: "Public sector bodies like Business Link need to have people with business experience who are well respected. John was that all right."

Len Cruddas, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are shocked. He was a relatively young man, a thoroughly decent man who really made a difference to business in York, particularly start-up and growth ventures."

The funeral is at York crematorium on Friday at 12.30pm There will be family flowers only, but contributions to cancer research will be welcome.