A loving grandad described as a Herne Bay “pub legend” will be remembered for being a “nice, caring bloke”.

Tributes have flooded in for Michael Pinder, who died at the QEQM Hospital last week following a long battle with ill health.

The 65-year-old had plied his trade as a plumber since leaving Greenhill Secondary School in the 70s – but it is through being a regular at several town boozers that he was best-known.

Son Dan Pinder says his father was most recently a patron at the Rose Inn in Mortimer Street, having frequented the likes of Rodney’s Sports Bar, the Prince of Wales and the Druid’s Head.

“He would go to the pub on a daily basis. If he walked in any pub, everyone would know him,” Dan told KentOnline.

“When I was younger, my dad used to pick me up at weekends and take me to the pubs, like the Rodney’s, and everyone would say ‘hello Micky’ when he walked in through the door.

“He’s been in pubs in Herne Bay all his life. He’s a pub legend.

'He was outgoing, sociable, funny, loving, caring – just an all-round top bloke.'

“A lot of people have said since he died that every time they saw him, they’d always have a really good laugh.

“He was outgoing, sociable, funny, loving, caring – just an all-round top bloke.

“And he was loved by pretty much everybody.”

Born in Herne Bay, Michael lived in the town for most of his life.

The plumber, who worked for the likes of building firm DCB, moved between homes in Cobblers Bridge Road and Mortimer Street.

In between his day job, the loving grandad was also well-known for working behind the bar at a number of his haunts, including the Heron.

But Michael, who most recently lived in Reed Avenue in Canterbury, had been fighting asbestosis since 2018, before developing pancreatic cancer.

“He was a highly rated plumber. He was working on a job at the Hotel Continental at Whitstable and he plumbed the whole hotel in with no drawings or plans,” Dan continued.

“He got diagnosed in 2018 with asbestosis, but recently he had one or two more problems and I’ve been caring for him.

“He deteriorated very quickly.

“We found out in the end he had pancreatic cancer. He had multiple problems when he died. He did suffer, but he put up a good fight.”

Pals, neighbours and former classmates took to social media to pay tribute to Michael following his death on November 9.

Friend Robert Giles described him as a “good plumber and great bloke” who he had “many pints of beer” with, while Debbie Young called him a “genuine all-round nice guy”.

Christopher Mount added: “[He was a] Herne Bay legend. A sad day, and a sad loss.”

Michael is survived by five children and six grandchildren.

Dan has launched a fundraiser to help pay for his dad to have the “send-off he deserves”.

To donate, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay