A POPULAR Colchester DJ and father of two has died suddenly from a suspected brain tumour.

Gary Thaleman died on Monday, leaving behind his wife, Josie, and two young daughters, Macy and Ruby.

The “Balearic beats” fan had been DJing at Colchester clubs and parties for more than ten years, including dance nights Mangled and Viva La Social.

A regular party-goer at the Barn, in Braintree, in the late Eighties, he soon settled into family life with his beloved wife, Josie, describing himself on his Facebook page as a “husband, father and crowd pleaser”.

Friends have been left shocked and saddened by the news, describing him as a “true gentleman” and “genuinely lovely”.

His best friend, Ali James, said Mr Thaleman’s first love was his wife and children, and his second, music.

Mr James, 37, who had been DJing with Gary for the past four years, said: “It has been a terrible shock to everybody.

“He couldn’t have been a better father to his children and he was a wonderful husband.

“He really was one of the nicest guys I ever met.

“We spent many evenings talking about music, we could chat for hours. He was the only person that I had that connection with.

“But the most important thing in the world to him was his wife and his children.”

An ex-pupil of the Plume School, in Maldon, where he lived, Gary had been a DJ around north essex since the age of 15.

He also worked in the printing industry and celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this year.

He was renowned for finishing his sets with the Jam classic That’s Entertainment.