TRIBUTES have been paid to Dick Crump, the borough's former head of highways.
Known for his witty sense of humour and commitment to his family and to his work, Mr Crump will be missed by many.
As reported, he passed away peacefully at home on Monday, aged 59, after battling with myelodysplasia since his was diagnosed in 2009.
Mr Crump, of Waltham Road, Scartho, served as a senior transport officer with North East Lincolnshire Council for many years, and was a well-known figure in the town.
He is survived by his wife Pauline, son Tom and daughter Ellie, and sisters Susan and Margaret.
Pauline said she has been overwhelmed by the amount of heartfelt messages of condolence she has received.
"I never realised how well-liked he was in the town and across the areas he has previously worked in," she said.
"I always knew he was a good man but the amount of people coming forward and leaving lovely messages is astonishing.
"I will always remember him for being a Yorkshireman through and through.
"He was dedicated to his family and to his work. He always cared about others and that's why I think he went into public services.
"I met Dick in 1993 after being set up on a blind date with him by Dave Poucher.
"We had our blind date in the Rothwell Arms, where they served a good ale, and we married a few months later.
"He liked his real ale and was a life time member of Camra, the real ale campaign group.
"We visited beer festivals all over; in fact, he introduced me to beer, as well as bird watching and curries.
"We used to take the mickey out of him about his home town because he was Dick Crump from Jump – a small village near Barnsley.
"It would be so funny when he would see relatives from there or talk to them on the phone as he would break out his real Yorkshire accent. He was very proud of the work he had completed. I remember we took a trip to Milton Keynes and he had to show us the bridge he helped design.
"One of his most-loved projects was the pedestrianisation of Victoria Street.
"We all had to have season tickets to see Sheffield United play, and 'up the Blades' was a favourite phrase of his."
Son Tom recalled: "We would go on holiday and spend a lot of time looking at churches, with dad admiring the architecture.
"He was an engineer through and through.
"He had a very witty dry sense of humour. He was a great people person."
And daughter Ellie said: "I remember when he started brewing his own ales under the stairs – it stunk the house out!
"He always thought of himself as a mathematician and would try to help me with my homework, but he wasn't much help."
Pauline added: "I will miss his red scarf and the big black coat, which were his signature pieces of clothing. He looked like a Mafia boss.
"I believe he waited for Tom and Ellie to come back on the Monday morning so I wouldn't be alone when he passed away.
"That is something he would have done; he was always thinking of others."
The funeral, at 11.40am, will be at Grimsby Crematorium on Tuesday. Donations are in lieu of flowers to the Amethyst Suite at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital.
