TRIBUTE has been paid to a beloved family man and former soldier who has died at the age of 58.
Alan Joy, from Hereford, died on Mother's Day after battling cancer for nine and a half years.
Despite his health struggles, Alan showed "incredible resilience" and "never lost his strength or spirit", his family have said.
A JustGiving page has been started by his daughter-in-law to help ease the financial pressures in the wake of his death.
Members of the public wishing to contribute can do so via this link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chloe-hornsby?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwY2xjawQzkHBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0WVhIWUlBOG5mR0dmTDlHc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm9I3aH--RphvdfDcrGlyOmnWv9u4PeonGqWmX4znWAdF6naFNdbFuLu0x66_aem_LNBnKY6n2uts_ZmPFGnBQA
Alan's wife, Susan, described her husband as a "good man" who would consistently lend a helping hand to others, whether it be helping to set up the annual bonfire at The Quarry in Tupsley, dressing up as Father Christmas for their estate, providing meals for the homeless, or hosting charity bingo nights.
"Alan would do absolutely anything," she said.
"He was such a fun-loving man, adored his family, he was very much a family man."
Together, Susan and Alan shared three children and seven grandchildren, the youngest of which was born just a few weeks before he died.
Family friend, Jacqueline Welch, who has started a separate fundraising page to help Mrs Joy buy a memorial bench for her garden, described Alan as a "hero" to his family, and said there was "never a dull moment" when he was around.
Those wishing to donate to the page can do so via this GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-wonderful-loving-husband-father-grandfather-soldier?attribution_id=sl:e0d2fe81-ffa2-467d-90f8-abc33f6a5388&lang=en_GB&ts=1774308695&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp20_control&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
Alan served for 22 years in the army, including being deployed to Kosovo and Iraq.
After leaving in 2012, he returned to his home city of Hereford from the family's military estate in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and took up gardening.
Mrs Joy said both Alan's regiment flag, a wreath, and a bugler will hopefully be sent to his funeral by his regiment, the Royal Pioneer Corps.
"My most important bit of that is that Alan has his regiment flag and stuff like that," Mrs Joy added.
"Because that was his life, well, that was our life."
His funeral will take place at Hereford Crematorium on Friday, April 10, at 4.15pm.
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