Friends and former colleagues have praised as "a good bloke" a fisheries boss who died in a shooting at the farm he rented.

Steve Langley, a former firefighter died from gunshot wounds to the abdomen on Friday after collapsing at Bax Farm in Tonge.

Earlier today 54-year-old homeless man Simon Olson appeared via virtual link at Medway magistrates court accused of his murder.

He was remanded in custody until he appears at crown court on Wednesday.

Now, those who knew Mr Langley have praised him for his big heart and willingness to help others.

Oliver Doubleday, 61, who owns Bax Farm where former Sittingbourne firefighter Mr Langley built the four fishing lakes and ran an onsite cafe and tackle shop, said: “The fishery was very much Steve’s inspiration and his work - he created it from the word go.

“Steve was just a really nice helpful guy.

“He had a lot of contacts with a lot of energetic, helpful nice people like fishermen and firemen who were energetic and enthusiastic - the kind of people who liked to get things done.

“Everything was going swimmingly for him.

“I’m devastated and can’t comprehend what happened.

“All my thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Speaking at the fisheries, which Mr Langley ran for 12 years, Nigel Poulteney, 50, a friend and fellow former firefighter, said: “He built this business up from nothing and dug all the lakes himself.

“He was a good bloke - if you needed anything, you came to Steve.

“He’d give anybody a chance.

“He was always jolly, even if things weren’t going well.

“My abiding memory of Steve will be of him sitting on the bank fishing, and wracking his brains thinking about how to keep the place going.

“Or of him standing looking at the lake saying, ‘I built all this’.

“The lakes were his baby.”

Mr Langley's wife, Lucia Langley, also paid tribute to her husband.

She said: "He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold. He loved his family who always came first and he would do anything for anybody."

Former colleague Jim Green, of Rock Road, Sittingbourne, also paid tribute, saying: "It is with great sadness to hear of the death of Steve, especially in such horrific circumstances.

"He was a great colleague and someone who I am glad to have called a true friend. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him."

Mr Langley leaves a teenage son, Oliver, 14, and daughter, Amy, 24, as well as two step-children and two step-grandchildren.

Staff at Kent Fire and Rescue Service were also saddened to hear of the death of Mr Langley - who worked for the service from January 1975 to December 1996.

Director of Operations, Steve Demetriou, said: "We're very saddened to hear of Steve's death and offer our sincere condolences to his family.

"He worked as a firefighter at Medway and Sittingbourne for 21 years, during which time he served his local community with diligence and professionalism, dealing with a number of incidents across the county.

"Steve also received a Chief Fire Officer's Letter of Congratulations for his actions while off-duty when he assisted at a road traffic collision on the Maidstone Road in Rochester.

“I will always remember your kindheartedness and jovial manner. You really were a gentle giant” - Mr Langley's daughter Amy

"He's also remembered by his colleagues as a keen fisherman and sportsman who represented KFRS on a number of occasions at rugby and football. He will be sadly missed by his colleagues at KFRS".

A number of floral tributes were left at the tackle shop from family members.

One message from daughter Amy, said: “I will always remember your kindheartedness and jovial manner.

“You really were a gentle giant.”

Another from stepson, Tom, said: “You made our family time so much fun.

“This Christmas won’t be the same without you.”

DI Gavin Moss, of the Serious Crime Directorate said of the case: "We are continuing to investigate the circumstances that have led to this tragic death.

"Mr Langley was a much loved father and husband and was also a well known member of his local community."

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