TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a “barbecue king” and devoted family man.

David Phillips, 68, died earlier this month from blood clots which formed as a result of a severe foot injury he suffered after he was hit by a car yards from his home in Berechurch Road, Colchester, before Christmas.

The retired maths teacher had seemed to be recovering well but collapsed suddenly weeks after the crash.

Doting daughter Jo Dalziel said her father was incredibly active.

“Before the accident he was always out gardening and walking his dog,” she said.

“He would always look after his wife, Gill, and treated her like an absolute princess.

“He was amazing and was injured not ill.

“At the time he was starting to get his mobility back and was not even taking pain killers, just a turmeric shake which he swore by - he never even had a cold.”

A talented cook, David would often make chutneys for The Fat Cat pub, brewed sloe gin to sell and raise cash for charity and hosted barbecues at the house he lived in for 40 years.

He also spent years working at the Heath School, which helped youngsters with behavioural problems.

“We called him the barbecue king because that is what he just loved doing,” Jo added.

“He was the sort of teacher who would drag the children out of bed if they had not turned up for an exam.

“He helped a lot of my friends.”

Grandson Josh Dalziel runs businesses including a catering firm and coffee shop.

He said his grandfather was inspirational.

“I would have him working on hog roasts for me and he loved it,” he said.

“He taught me to cook - he taught me everything and bought me my first bike, my first car.

“He would come to the coffee shop everyday and message me all the time to see how I was.

“I lived with him for a while when I was at school so now he knows all my mates.

“They would all go back to his house even if I wasn’t around because they liked him so much.”

David leaves three children, ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

All are welcome to his funeral at Colchester Crematorium on March 20 at 2pm with attendees asked to wear a dash of red in honour of the proud Welshman.

Anyone who saw the crash on December 13 should call 101 quoting incident 1058.