The travel industry has paid tribute to former travel agent owner David Oak who has died following a short illness.
Oak from Port Talbot in Wales died on July 16 aged 72.
He set up his first travel agency, Parkhurst Travel, in 1978.
Friends and family described Oak as someone “everybody loved” and among the first to create package holidays for travellers.
He set up Parkhurst Travel with his wife Gaynor and opened seven stores across Wales over 10 years.
Oak was known as a specialist in long-haul holidays and after Parkhurst Travel was bought by Hogg Robinson he set up Air Ticket Centres and Air Travel Centres.
This was sold to Travel House in 1999 where Oak stayed and set up THG Holidays which specialises in the Far East.
His son Gavin Oak still works at the business as a product executive.
Speaking on social media, Gavin thanked friends and family for messages of support and said they had been “overwhelming”.
Gareth Gronow, managing director said: “It is with deep sadness that we post a remembrance for Mr David Oak who passed away a few days ago.
“David was a co-founder of THG Holidays and a driving force in our early years. He was a great character, full of energy and a traveller to the core.
“I had the pleasure of many overseas trips with David and I can say with certainty he was loved the world over and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
“God bless and our thoughts are with Gavin Oak and all the family at this very sad time.”
“He was a very lovely warm bloke that everybody loved.”
Miles Morgan, owner of Miles Morgan Travel, was a friend of Oak having worked with him at THG Holidays.
“David was the sort of person you never thought could die.
“He was a very lovely warm bloke that everybody loved. He has incredible knowledge on travel, especially long haul as that was his specialty and everyone knew him in the industry.
“He was so fit and healthy, and a complete nutter when it came to his running, I used to tell him so too. He was such a likeable chap. He will really be missed.”
Oak most recently worked for tour operator InspireSport and the company’s chief executive, Steve Butchart paid tribute.
He said: “On behalf of Inspiresport, our thoughts go out to David’s family and friends at this time.
“David had worked on a number of tours for the business over the past few years with destinations ranging from Sunderland to St Lucia.
“On each occasion David displayed the same energy and enthusiasm backed by a wealth of travel expertise – he will very much be missed by his colleagues at Inspiresport.”
“I would say everybody followed suit after David, he was a pioneer.”
Sue Cobley, owner of Sketty Travel in Wales, was hired by Oak at Parkhurst Travel in the late 1970s worked for him and his wife Gaynor for four years.
“When he set up Parkhurst he was really the first to be a very different kind of travel agent.
“He was the first to have Chesterfield suites for customers and the first to put deals up in the window.
“David really was about the bargains, a bit of a wheeler dealer, and was also among the first agents to do group airline bookings and get the best airfares.
“I would say everybody followed suit after David, he was a pioneer.”
David was a keen runner and ran with Neath Harriers and Port Talbot Harriers who paid tribute on Facebook saying he was ‘instrumental’ in the development of the local clubs.
His funeral will be held on Friday July 28 at 2.30pm at the Margam Crematorium in Port Talbot. The wake will be held at Twelve Knights hotel in Port Talbot.
His family has requested no flowers but donations if desired to Blood Bikes Wales and Wales Air Ambulance.