TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular Aberystwyth actor and university lecturer who has died, aged 53.

David Blumfield, who was well-known for his performances in the Wardens’ pantomimes, the Arts Centre Christmas shows and as the director of Castaway Community Theatre, died on Saturday, 31 October from Septicaemia.

He leaves behind Lindsay, his wife of 32 years.

David Blumfield, who was known affectionately throughout the town as “Blummers”, also taught Theatre Studies at Aberystwyth University.

Since David’s death was announced, hundreds of students past and present, along with friends and family, have taken to social media to pay tribute to him.

“The outpouring of tributes throughout the weekend via Facebook has illustrated how much this man meant to a great many and how many lives he has influenced and enriched,” his family said in a statement.

David was born in Birmingham, where he attended Bournville Technical School.

It was there that he discovered his love of drama, prompting him to join Birmingham Youth Theatre in 1980. There he met his first love, best friend and lifelong partner Lindsay. They married on 17 September 1983.

The family added: “David’s passion and enthusiasm did not just confine him to drama and the arts, as he had a close and loving relationship with his father, Leslie Blumfield, and together they shared a fascination for trains and the railways.

“David lived with his mother, Joan, and during his formative years she had to endure David’s other love, this being West Bromwich Albion Football Club.

“During the 1970s, the fever and overwhelming lure of heavy metal with Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Rush and AC/DC to name a few became a passion and a way of life for over 40 years.

“David also had a brilliant relationship with his older sister, Shelagh. Later on Dave became a fantastic uncle to Shelagh’s sons Luke, Oliver and Tom.”

In 1987 David and Lindsay went to Bangor University to study drama and in 1991 moved to Aberystwyth.

They joined Castaway Theatre Company. In 1992, they won Best Play at the British Theatre Festival for the one-act play After Liverpool.

In 1997, Dave took over the artistic directorship of Castaway, which subsequently became Aberystwyth Arts Centre’s theatre company.

As an actor, David gave many memorable performances, such as Salieri in Amadeus.

He will probably be remembered by most as the ‘baddie’ in the Wardens’ pantomime.

The last time he played the villain was in Robin Hood in 2012 when he dislocated his shoulder on stage during one of the performances.

Even though he was in agony, he wanted to finish the performance, but was eventually persuaded to go to hospital. He continued the rest of the run with his arm in a sling.

David is remembered as a fantastic tutor, director, practitioner and inspiration to his students at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University.

Knowing the effect David has had, his family said: “He will be remembered and cherished by thousands, whether as a community theatre director putting on a production of Treasure Island that incorporated an Alice Cooper song at the interval; as a mentor to a student that needed a guiding hand or a word of inspiration; a friend that needed a laugh and someone to make them feel special; or a family member that wanted to talk for hours about the most obscure moments of the past. His impact on us all has been felt deeply and shall be tragically missed.”

Wardens director Richard Cheshire said: “David inspired and touched the lives of so many people - not only students studying at the university, but members of the community.

“He was admired and respected and his own performances were majestic.

“He will also be fondly remembered as pantomime villain for the Wardens - funny, witty and loved by audiences.

“He loved Aberystwyth and his work will remain long in the memory. He will be sorely missed.”

David’s long time friend, Richard Hull said: “David was unique in his loving care for all of the actors who joined him in the world of his productions. He could walk into a room full of apprehensive strangers and within minutes they were his ‘theatre-children’. There are now thousands of us ‘children’ in all corners of the world.”

David’s funeral will take place at 1.30pm on Monday, 16 November at Aberystwyth Crematorium, followed by a wake at Aberystwyth Arts Centre (family flowers only).