A well-known and much-loved taxi firm boss was tragically found dead at home by his own son.

Ivan Auty, who ran United Taxis in Ashford, died after consuming a fatal combination of prescription drugs and alcohol, but a coroner last week ruled out suicide.

The 69-year-old’s devastated family say he was a “happy, helpful and generous” businessman who was also an “amazing grandad”.

After starting out as a cab driver at a rival firm in Ashford, he worked hard to save enough money to buy his own company, growing its fleet from just a few cars to 21.

More than 170 people attended his funeral, with a convoy of 17 taxis following the hearse.

The father-of-two was found dead at home in a locked snooker room on August 20 last year by his son Paul, who told KentOnline: “I still struggle with it every day. It’s a tragedy.”

He added that his father gave jobs to many people over the years through owning United Taxis and was an active member of the business community, providing a vital transport service for the NHS, vulnerable people, children, the general public and more.

“He loved his family and friends, cars, music, boating, snooker, holidays and his business,” he said.

“He is very much missed by many.”

Paul said that as well as being a clever businessman, his father was a “happy-go-lucky guy and very well-liked and well-known”.

“He would always help people financially if someone was stuck,” he added.

“He worked for Arrow Taxis originally. He worked as a taxi driver seven days a week to save up to buy United Taxis, which had three or four cars at the time. It now has 21.

“He was very successful - a hard-working, happy man.”

The inquest on Friday heard Mr Auty was found on a chair at his home in Mersham with various prescribed medications and wine near him.

A toxicology report said he had taken tablets, such as paracetamol, at therapeutic levels. Only codeine was taken in an elevated dose.

The grandfather-of-two also had a reading of 84 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood - only just over the drink-drive limit of 80.

The inquest heard that the night before his death, Mr Auty had told his wife, Anne, he was going out to meet his friend, Mark Kingsland, for a coffee.

Mr Kingsland saw him at 11.30pm on August 19 and said he had been cheerful and the two had been reminiscing.

Mr Auty’s movements after that were unconfirmed but his wife woke up at 6.15am the next day and found he had not gone to bed.

When she saw the key to the snooker room on the kitchen side, she thought he had locked up after having a game.

However, it was discovered the door was locked from the inside.

Paul came over at about 1pm and tried to call his father on his mobile phone but it was turned off.

“Whenever I picture Ivan in my mind, he always has a smile on his face. He will be missed…”

The key was still in the lock to the snooker room door, so he was able to use a spare to push it out.

The inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone heard it could not be explained why some of the prescribed medication found near Mr Auty was not in his name but that of an unknown person.

Police in their investigations also found that he had been under a lot of stress through his business, the inquest heard.

But Mr Auty had left no note and was cheerful the last time he was seen by a friend.

Katrina Hepburn, area coroner for Central and South East Kent, said: “I am not satisfied that he intended to take own life, so I discount suicide.

“There is no evidence that he took high levels of alcohol or drugs.”

Ms Hepburn also did not believe that a medical episode was behind Mr Auty’s death.

As well as paramedics, police were called and later concluded that there had been no suspicious circumstances or evidence of third-party involvement.

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Auty had died from an intoxicating combination of alcohol and drugs, but also listed coronary artery disease as a contributory factor.

Following his death, Mr Auty’s family launched a fundraiser for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), with more than £2,000 donated.

On an online tribute page, former employees said the cab firm owner was “always a pleasure to work for and would greet us with a friendly smile and a wave”.

Another post described him as a “wonderful man who I have many fond memories of”.

A further tribute said: “Whenever I picture Ivan in my mind, he always has a smile on his face. He will be missed.”