TRIBUTES have been paid to a dentist who died while on a family holiday.

Ramesh Shah, 67, suffered a fatal heart attack when he was in east Africa last month.

Dr Shah, who was married with three daughters, practised dentistry in Clacton for more than 40 years.

He first practised in Jackson Road before moving to surgeries in St Osyth Road.

He then moved to Old Road where he established the Dental Implant Academy.

The practice was sold in recent years, but Dr Shah continued to work at the surgery as an implantologist.

Dr Shah was born in Kenya into a large family of nine older siblings.

He graduated as a dental surgeon from Mumbai University in India, and moved to England in 1973, where he continued his studies to be qualified to practise in the UK.

After a brief period of working in Basildon, he settled down in Clacton with his wife, Chand, where in 1976 he opened his first practice.

After moving to St Osyth Road, he integrated the latest innovations in dental technologies and processes, making it a leading clinic in the area.

It was at this time Dr Shah continued to study and qualified as an implantologist, steering his practice towards more implant-oriented work in his later years.

Away from business he loved his sport especially tennis, cricket and golf. He was a member of both Clacton Cricket Club and Clacton Golf Club, where he enjoyed a round whenever he could find the opportunity.

Such was his passion, Dr Shah sponsored a cricket match where Clacton took on a West Indian team at Vista Road, while Alvin Greenidge was playing for the Seasiders.

Mrs Shah and their three daughters, Dipa, Rupa and Bansi, paid tribute to their father.

They said: “Ramesh practised dentistry with pride and diligence, cared dearly for his patients and all those who worked with him, treating life with good humour and respect.

“He was a man who lived for others and he could not have enjoyed a more full and blessed life than that lived for more than 40 years in Clacton.

“For the past ten years Ramesh also enjoyed his role as a grandad to his ever-growing family and took on the role of family tennis coach.”

He was also part of the East Anglian Indian Association and was its chairman for many years.

“He took great pleasure in organizing curry nights for the charity.

“The team would cook and host a curry night at a local venue every year.”