A FAMILY today paid tribute to an 84-year-old relative who died on Tuesday following a road accident.Police have identified the victim of the accident at Aldeburgh as Karl Plessner, from the town.

A FAMILY today paid tribute to an 84-year-old relative who died on Tuesdayfollowing a road accident.

Police have identified the victim of the accident at Aldeburgh as Karl Plessner, from the town.

Today, a statement was released by his family. It said: “He was a kind and thoughtful man who was very active locally, doing voluntary work for Meals-on-Wheels, the Aldeburgh Museum and other groups, and assisting neighbours with repairs, transport and errands.

“He was a skilled amateur potter and musician, playing the cello with Woodbridge's amateur orchestra.

“He was also active socially, attending concerts and bridge parties with many of his friends.”

Mr Plessner was born in Breslau, Germany, (now Wroclaw in Poland) in 1923 and was a refugee from the Nazi regime, escaping to Britain in 1939.

He was educated at in Lancashire, Manchester, and at Imperial College, London, where he got a Ph.D in electrical engineering.

In 1946 he married Carla, nee Nagelschmidt, and the pair had two daughters and lived in Hertfordshire.

Carla died in 1981 and he married Marylyn Whitrow, who brought him to Aldeburgh. He became stepfather to eight stepchildren. Marylyn died in 2000 but Mr Plessner stayed in the town.

For a large part of his career, he was a research scientist for BICC, now part of Balfour Beatty, where he explored ways of improving insulating material. He also conducted research in the development of optical fibres, essential to modern telecommunications and the internet.

Suffolk police today renewed its appeal for witnesses to the accident, which happened opposite Aldeburgh Cinema at 9.50am on August 29.

Any witnesses are asked to call Sgt Steve Knight at Halesworth Roads Policing Unit on 01986 835350.