TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Grimsby's best-known landlords, whose sense of humour kept his family and his punters laughing.
Tony Paduch died suddenly from a heart attack at his home in Grant Street, Cleethorpes. He was 53.
The "larger-than-life" character was well-known and extremely popular in the area after running a string of successful bars in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, including The Honest Lawyer, The Bradley and the former Baton Rouge.
His family described him as a "great man and special friend".
Sister Jenny Render, 59, said: "He had a great sense of humour. He mingled with his customers and never angered anyone. He just loved everyone and got on with them all."
Sister-in-law Cindy, 46, continued: "He was always laughing, that was just the kind of person he was. He was always jolly and happy. No one ever saw him sad. He would always say, 'I'm Peter Pan, I'll never get old'. He was young at heart."
Tony earned a great reputation among pubbers and clubbers for his fun nights at the former Baton Rouge.
While pubs were his passion, his greatest love were his daughters, Francesca, 23, and Chantelle, 21, and one-year-old grandson, Freddie.
Among the memories of their father are the yearly trips to America's Disneyland.
They said: "Our dad lived life to the full. He loved his family with all his heart. He was a proud man, dad and grandad, even though he always said he was too young to be a grandad. Our dad still thought he was 21. He always knew how to put a smile on our faces. Today, he smiles down on us and watches over us as we remember the happy memories we shared with him. Our memories will live on."
After leaving Grimsby briefly to work in Newcastle's top club, Legends, in 2001, he returned to the area and worked as a taxi driver.
One of nine children, Tony was described by his siblings as their mother's "blue-eyed boy".
He would visit mother, Joan Marie, 84, of Stainton Drive, Grimsby, every Sunday, where she would treat him to his favourite meals, like sausage casserole and roasts.
"He was a loving son," said Joan. "The last thing he said to me was 'I love you mum'."
Tony's older brother, Edward, added: "I can't believe he has gone. It is like there is a big hole in our lives."
He is also survived by his brothers Ray, 55, and Bobby, 43, and his sister Carol Jones, 52. His late sisters are Maggie and Beryl.
His family would like to thank everyone who attended Tony's funeral at St Pius' Church, in Chelmsford Avenue, Grimsby.
