TRIBUTES have been paid to a man who was “a great supporter of Southend Hospital” and a “much loved husband and father.”

John Gibson, died on Sunday August 7, aged 89.

Mr Gibson spent much time fundraising for Southend Hospital and found a charitable trust to buy cutting-edge-machinery for the hospital.

Mr Gibson’s long and highly valued association with Southend Hospital dates back to 1986 when he was involved in a serious road accident that saw him suffer multiple severe injuries and was transferred to Southend Hospital for further treatment.

Since 1992 he fundraised for virtually every area of the hospital, including the stroke unit, physiotherapy, rheumatology, and research and development, as well as its critical care and high dependency units.

Alan Tobias OBE, Chairman of Southend University Hospital, said: “John was a great supporter of the hospital particularly in terms of charitable funds and equipment donation.

“We are greatly indebted to his many years of energetic and dedicated work to provide our hospital with so much cutting-edge equipment.

“Since 1992, John’s charity, the Advanced Surgical Equipment Trust (ASET) has helped re-equip our theatres, critical care and high dependency units and provided the latest cutting-edge equipment for virtually every area of the hospital including stroke, physiotherapy, rheumatology and research and development.

“As a result John was made an MBE in the 1995 New Year’s Honours for services to the community.

“Despite handing over the chairmanship of ASET in recent years to long-standing friend and colleague, former hospital chairman John Bruce, John remained heavily involved with the technological and purchasing side of ASET, gaining huge satisfaction from funding and seeing installed at Southend University Hospital the most up-to-date medical and surgical equipment.

“In 2015 I was delighted to present him with a lifetime achievement award at our volunteer honours ceremony in recognition of his dedication.”

Last year, Mr Gibson received a lifetime Achievement award from Southend Hospital for all he had done.

A service will take place on Tuesday August 30 at Southend Crematorium at 12.40pm in the West Chapel.