A pensioner who was found dead after a four-day rescue operation is being remembered as a kind and gentle man.

Police trying to locate father-of-two and grandfather-of-four David ‘Dave’ Haselden, 84, of Castle Field, Tonbridge, made the tragic discovery after attending the Racecourse Park area.

Son Michael, 59, says his father was a keen sports fan - particularly interested in football and cricket - who loved being outdoors.

He said: “Dad was a gentle, kind man. He was hard-working.

“He loved nature, fishing and other sports, in particular football and cricket. But he was into all sports, really.

“He used to take me from time to time to Tonbridge Angels. But more often, we would go to football matches at Crystal Palace or Chelsea.

“He didn’t have a particular team but we would sometimes go up into London on a Saturday and make a day of it by seeing a match in the afternoon.”

Born in Croydon in 1937, he was evacuated to North Wales during the Second World War before moving to Tonbridge when he was around seven or eight years old.

He attended the Judd School and his love of nature shone through during his life.

Michael said: “He was a keen fisherman and he would go for long walks in the countryside.

“Dad would even put bricks in a rucksack to give himself a bit more to carry when he was going out on some of his walks!”

Dave and his wife Marie, who died two years ago with the pair having married in 1962, had sons Michael and David, 57, and Michael says they were always a tight-knit family unit.

Dave had worked as a shipping broker and then as a civil servant for the Land Registry in Tunbridge Wells before retirement.

“We had lots of holidays and days out. We were very often together as a family as a four,” he said.

“More recently, he's enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren very much.”

David has one daughter, 30-year-old Francesca, while his brother Michael’s children are 22-year-old James, Jess, 18, and 11-year-old Josie-Mae.

After Dave went missing on August 17, divers were spotted searching parts of the River Medway two days later, as they intensified their search.

Officers descended en masse close to the town swimming pool and New Wharf Road, before a search-and-rescue helicopter was called to the area.

They were assisted by members of Kent Search and Rescue and by divers from Specialist Group International.

But Dave's body was found on Saturday, August 22.

Son Michael says his wife, Brionnie, will be doing the Tonbridge Half Marathon on Sunday, October 10, to raise money for the Kent Search and Rescue team in recognition of their efforts.

On the rescue efforts, he said: “The police were absolutely excellent. They were very supportive and professional, and they kept in regular touch. That was very helpful.

"Of course, there were divers there and Kent Search and Rescue. They were very helpful as well.”

He also thanked those close to them for their support.

"The people that are close to us have been very good. We have come together as a family," Michael said.

"We have felt very well supported. Lots of friends have brought us meals and that sort of thing, or have spent time with us, talking and listening."

Dave was believed to be wearing hiking boots and carrying a backpack when he was last seen, with his son admitting his disappearance “was a sad ending” to his life.

He regularly visited The Humphrey Bean on Tonbridge High Street.

Michael added: "He would have been well-known there."

Funeral arrangements are yet to be made as a report is being prepared for the coroner.

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