Paul Newman Welsh family tribute

Paul Newman visited Gower in 2005 for his daughter's wedding

Welsh relatives of screen legend Paul Newman have spoken of the "lovely man" who became part of their family.

When Sue and Stuart Proctor's son Gary Irving married Nell Newman in 2005, the Oscar-winner and his family celebrated the couple's wedding in Swansea.

The star, who has died of cancer at 83, later donated £20,000 to the city's Singleton Hospital, where Mrs Proctor received breast cancer treatment.

Mrs Proctor said it was a "very sad time" for a "very close family".

The star of movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and Road to Perdition died at his home in Connecticut on Friday.

He and his actor wife Joanne Woodward visited Gower in March 2005 where his daughter and Mr Irving held a wedding celebraton at the Fairyhill Hotel following their marriage in California.

You couldn't wish for nicer people Sue Proctor, pictured with her husband Stuart, on the Newman family

Mrs Proctor told BBC Radio Wales: "I only met him a couple of times - once of course at the wedding - but he was a lovely man.

"I can't go in to details about his illness but he was a very generous man... a very quiet, very humble man.

"He does things without wanting to be known for it."

She revealed Mr Newman had given a second lot of money via his son-in-law, believed to be £25,000, which would be split between Singleton Hospital's Breast Care Centre and Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre, also based at the hospital.

The actor was known for his philanthropy, having set up his own food range, Newman's Own, and donated all profits to a number of charitable organisations.

She said her son had tried to ring home to inform his parents of Mr Newman's death but they were out at the time, and she had actually heard via the news.

Surfboarder Gary Irving met Nell after she bought a surfboard from his business.

Paul Newman's daughter Nell met Gary Irving in California

Mrs Proctor continued: "We met [Paul Newman] when our son and Nell had the blessing in Fairyhill three years ago and we went to stay with Joanne and Paul two years ago.

"The whole family are very nice, down to earth people, free from the Hollywood scene."

On being related through marriage to such a famous actor, she said: "It's just very ordinary.

"You couldn't wish for nicer people.

"We haven't been in contact as yet. I suppose that will come in time.

"It's a very sad time. Although he was 83, it's still the end of an era."