The former landlord of a city centre pub has died while on a trip to India.

Ivan Brown, 71, owned the Murderers in Timberhill from 1984 until 2003 when current landlord Phil Cutter joined him at the helm, eventually taking full control in 2014.

According to newspaper the Hindustan Times, he was electrocuted while visiting the country with a friend named David Linder on a one-year tourist visa.

The paper said he came in contact with a live wire while taking photos at Baikunth Nagar near Dalhousie in Chamba district in the Himalayan foothills on Sunday. 

It reports the pair arrived on March 31 and stayed in a hotel and were scheduled to leave for Dharamshala on Sunday.

Dalhousie deputy superintendent of police, Hemant Thakur, told the paper that before leaving at about 9am local time Mr Brown went to take a photo close to a building site.

He said Ivan went too close to a transmission line and came into contact with a live wire. He died instantly.

Norwich Evening News: Ivan Brown at the Murderers in 1984Ivan Brown at the Murderers in 1984 (Image: Newsquest)

The Times of India reports that two labourers had a close shave at the spot a few months ago when they were warned by a worker at the site to move away.

His death was confirmed by a Foreign Office spokesman today.

He said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in India and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Norwich Evening News:

Prior to his time running the Murderers, which is also known as the Gardeners' Arms, Ivan spent six years as a punter before making the decision to buy it from then landlord Douro Potter.

Mr Cutter and his twin brother Pat joined the pub as potboys and later Ivan owned The Bull at Hellesdon, and sold the lease to Pat.

He also bought the lease to the Eagle pub in Newmarket Road, Norwich, with Nigel Booty.

Norwich Evening News:

Born in Costessey, his family moved to Lenwade when he was 11, and he went to Reepham Secondary Modern School.

He left at 15 to work as a trainee concrete inspector for Taylor Woodrow in Lenwade.

Norwich Evening News:

After a few years, Ivan moved to EG Reeve in Norwich, where he was a trainee draughtsman, and then, aged 21, he joined Trebor Sharps as a salesman a job he did for 12 years before moving into the pub trade.

When he last spoke to the Evening News in 2014, Ivan said his hobbies included golf, cycling, tennis and travelling.

Norwich Evening News:

His love of sport saw him oversee the creation of football, netball and basketball teams for the Murderers.

He is survived by his wife Jackie, daughters Danielle and Natalie and son Douglas.

The Evening News has attempted to contact his family.