FAMILY and friends of an Ipswich man are today preparing to sip a very special brew in his memory.Wayne Barrett was 38 when he collapsed and died at his mother's home in Stratford Road, on March 21, 2006.

FAMILY and friends of an Ipswich man are today preparing to sip a very special brew in his memory.

Wayne Barrett was 38 when he collapsed and died at his mother's home in Stratford Road, on March 21, 2006.

Now pals of the heart-attack victim have organised a party to honour him tonight, on what would have been his 40th birthday.

And at event they will be drinking a bottled beer with Mr Barrett's smiling face on it.

Close friend Rob Sadler, of Norwich Road, said: “He was such a fantastic human being; he was funny, entertaining, sensitive and talented.

“He was a musician, an actor and a caring man; he was just a totally fantastic human being who everyone loved dearly.

“Wayne's brother came up idea of having a special beer. It represents Wayne in a bottle, tasty and fun and something to remember him for.

“The event is going to be a celebration of his life, a raising of the bottle with a lovely symbolism.”

Mr Sadler added that during tonight's party there would be a raffle raising money to study enlarged hearts, the condition Mr Barrett died of.

Mr Barrett moved to Ipswich in 1971 with his mother and later attended Thurleston High School, in Defoe Road, Ipswich, where he took up amateur dramatics.

After studying at college in Birmingham Mr Barrett became a sound engineer for the BBC and although he was living in London at the time of his death, he was making plans to return to Ipswich.

The party to celebrate Wayne Barrett's life will be held at the Civic Social Club in Black Horse Lane, Ipswich, from 7.30pm. For more information call Rob Sadler on 07525 664404.