TRIBUTES have been paid to “the best loved man of Maldon” who has died, aged 75.

Geoffrey Vale died at Farleigh Hospice on May 21 following a battle with cancer.

Mr Vale was a hugely respected architect, stalwart and volunteer in Maldon, having worked on several projects such as designing the huts at Osea Leisure Park.

He was the secretary for Churches Together in Maldon, organising the annual Good Friday procession, promoting the work of young people, as well as helping to develop a hospital in Albania.

Mr Vale spent 51 years of his life in Maldon, becoming passionate about holding inappropriate developments to account, contributing to the foundation of the Save Maldon Action Group.

In April last year, Mr Vale helped Churches Together to form the Maldon Refugee Response Group to help collect cash to support a family from one of the refugee camps near the Syrian border.

Within a week, they raised £7,000 to help house a family fleeing the war-torn country within the East of England.

Alongside all his charity and voluntary work, he was a keen sailor, keeping his boat at the Goldhanger Sailing Club and making regular journeys.

He was described by the club’s commodore as having “a great sense of humour”.

Mr Vale’s wife Elizabeth said she had received dozens of messages since his death.

She said: “I have received many expressions of regard for Geoffrey and the words that recur are kindness, honesty, compassion, integrity.

“When working in Albania he developed a great love for the Albanian people. One former client praised his great architectural skills as well as his ‘kindness, wisdom and understanding’. He reached out to everyone.

“A family member said he was ‘the epitome of social justice’, a member of the interfaith community remarked on his enthusiasm ‘to share the religion of Christianity’ whilst showing ‘the same enthusiasm to learn about Islam’.

“As one Catholic friend told my son: ‘He was the best loved man in the town’.”

Mr Vale’s son Matt is now raising funds for Farleigh Hospice in his father’s memory, due to the brilliant care he received.

His JustGiving page has so far raised more than £500.

Matt said: “My dad was loved not just by his family but also, as we are now discovering, by an enormous amount of people whose lives he had enriched through his friendship and support.

“Throughout his illness he showed amazing strength - and at times stubbornness. Towards the end he was in a lot of pain and discomfort but he was able to use his strength of will to find a smile for his adored grandchildren and a joke for the nurses at Farleigh.

"They have been truly amazing. The care they have shown for dad and also the sympathy and support they have given mum and the rest of the family when we were so low made an awful time more bearable.”

"It’s difficult to express in words how grateful we are to the nurses, doctors and volunteers at the hospice.”

Mr Vale’s funeral will be held on Friday, June 15 at 2pm at All Saints Church in Maldon.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/geoffreyvale.