An entertainer and music lover from Barming who was still performing into his seventies has died.

Dad-of-two and scaffolder Paul Hayman, 74, who built stages for Hells Angels motorcycle shows and a Jimi Hendrix concert passed away earlier this year after being diagnosed with tongue cancer in the summer.

The grandad had received his Covid-19 vaccine a week before he passed away.

Mr Hayman’s daughter Hayley, 44, said: “He lived a very colourful life. He always said it was better to burn out than fade away.

“He lived this amazing rock n’ roll lifestyle but at the end of the day he was a traditional family man with morals and values.”

Mr Hayman was born in Tunbridge Wells and grew up with Boughton Monchelsea.

His never knew his dad and his mum, a former land girl, died from cancer when Mr Hayman was a teenager, meaning from an early age he was a hard worker.

While working as a builder and a scaffolder he also put on DJ sets and shows.

Ms Hayman remembers how her dad used to breath fire in the shows.

After retiring from scaffolding and in his seventies he created Skanga Sound System UK, where he would put on music and light shows in local venues.

Before the pandemic he performed about 10 times a year.

At 72, his neck was viciously slashed open by a drunken neighbour on his doorstep.

The attacker, John Lowe, was jailed but despite the terrible ordeal, Mr Hayman forgave him in a remarkable act of compassion.

“He made peace with his attacker,” his daughter added.

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