A FAMILY have paid tribute to a loving father who died after his car crashed with a tractor.

Peter Brown, 72, of Colchester, was on his way to help a friend in his garden when the accident happened in Wick Lane, Ardleigh.

He was flown to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with a bleed on the brain, a fractured cheekbone, collarbone and breast bone, as well as a broken elbow.

Doctors saw signs of progress in Mr Brown, after the crash, on January 6. However, he suffered a heart attack two weeks later because of clots in his lungs.

Despite him once again showing signs of recovery, Mr Brown died on January 29, with his wife Yvonne by his side. Son Russell Brown, 39, said the family were devastated to lose an amazing man.

He said: “Dad was so full of life.

He wasn’t your average 72-yearold and just couldn’t sit down.

“He was so fit and constantly doing things for other people.

“He really did live for his family. Nothing was too much for him. He was on his way to help a friend when it happened.

“We’re all gutted. At his 72nd birthday I remember we had a family picture taken and at the time I was thinking ‘we have plenty more time for these’. But we didn’t.

“More than 350 people turned up to his funeral. It really does say it all.”

Mr Brown had lived more than 50 years of his life in Colchester with his wife Yvonne and children Mark, Nevenka and Russell.

He also had ten grandchildren.

While he had retired by the time of the accident, he had worked as a bricklayer and in his earlier days loved managing local football teams, as well as playing the game.

His recent love was golf, and Mr Brown was a member at Playgolf, in Lexden.

The family have organised a golf day on Sunday, to be held in his memory.

Russell said: “He played golf every weekend and loved it, even going to France every year to play.

“We are expecting at least 70 people to turn up and hopefully turn it into an annual event.

“The money raised from the event will pay for a bench to be put at the golf club in memory of dad.

“The rest of the funds will be donated to the Essex Air Ambulance because we want to thank them for everything they did.”