TRIBUTES were today being paid to man found dead in an Ipswich toilet block just two weeks after his 15th wedding anniversary.Nicholas Crowley, of Warwick Avenue, Woodbridge was discovered by paramedics just after midnight yesterday in Old Foundry Road.

TRIBUTES were today being paid to man found dead in an Ipswich toilet block just two weeks after his 15th wedding anniversary.

Nicholas Crowley, of Warwick Avenue, Woodbridge was discovered by paramedics just after midnight yesterday in Old Foundry Road.

As a post mortem was being carried out into the 40-year-old's death, his family spoke of a "gentle and caring" man.

His mother and step-father, who drove up from their Southampton home early today, said the news of his death had come as a "bolt out of the blue".

His mother, who declined to be named, said: "He was lovely. He treated everybody the same. There were no classes as far as he was concerned. Everybody was as good as anyone else and everyone loved him."

The avid Chelsea fan, who was a keen all-round sportsman, had been living in Woodbridge with wife Suzanne for the past three years. They had recently celebrated their wedding anniversary together.

The couple met while working at a Norwich children's home. After marrying in Norfolk, Suzanne's career as a social worker took them to Hackney, in London.

Another career move then brought them to Suffolk, where they have stayed ever since.

Mr Crowley was born in Weymouth and had many friends in his home town. His main trade was as a bricklayer and he worked on a number of different projects, including the construction of Norwich Castle Mall shopping centre.

However, he had been off work for a number months while he received treatment for an illness.

His mother, who was told of the tragedy when police officers called at her home at 5.15am yesterday, said: "His death was a complete shock for us. He was with us just a few weeks ago to lay a patio for us. All the time he was down here he was going out with his old friends. He was so popular.

"Everybody knew him. My other son lives in London and only yesterday people were asking how he was. That's how much people thought of him."

Mr Crowley, a catholic, had a brother, Paul, 39 and a sister Gemma, 34. He had no children.

Next-door neighbour and Arsenal fan Doris Gilbert, 81, said she would often share some "banter" with Mr Crowley about football.

She added: "He was a real gentleman. He was always pleasant and always used to say 'hello'. Him and Sue were great neighbours and Nick will be sorely missed."

Mr Crowley was said to be particularly fond of his garden, where he spent a lot of time. He would regularly visit a number of friends in the Ipswich area.

Would you like to pay tribute to Mr Crowley? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk