A MAN has paid tribute to his “eccentric” and well known brother who died while playing pool in his local pub.

Bob Smith, 73, said his brother Colin Smith, 67, died while waiting to take his shot at the Woolpack Inn, in Church Street, Witham.

Colin was widely known as Colin the Cod due to his love of fishing, and was often seen with his long beard dyed and in plaits.

Bob said: “He was a great chap and he wouldn’t have wanted me to be sad.

“He was a loveable figure. He used to shave his beard off to raise money for the Air Ambulance.

“He was a bit eccentric. He was quite a character around town, that’s for sure.

“There was no way he was going to change his lifestyle and I wouldn’t have wanted him to do that anyway.”

Colin was the youngest of three brothers, all born at the old nurse’s station in Collingwood Road, Witham.

He first went to Rivenhall Primary School before joining Bob and middle brother Ken, now 72, at the John Bramston School.

While the older brothers moved out, Colin remained in the family home in Church Street, Witham, until his death.

He worked for flavours and fragrances firm Bush Boake Allen in its Witham factory before being made redundant when it closed.

Mr Smith said: “Fishing was his main interest. He used to do sea fishing, so he would go to places like Clacton.

“He used to take people’s dogs for a walk and he loved pool.

“He was actually waiting to take his shot and I’m told someone gave him a nudge to check he hadn’t gone to sleep, but he had just slipped away.”

The former taxi driver, who lives in Braintree, said his brother was a regular churchgoer but also liked to gamble.

He said: “He was a church man, he was a God-fearing man.

"He went to the church in Guithavon Valley.

“He was well known in the betting shops. I think when I go through his things, I am going to find one or two winning tickets.”

Colin died on Monday, November 2.

Mr Smith said funeral arrangements had not yet been made, but he wanted to thank the people of Witham for their “tremendous support” following Colin’s death.