Tributes paid to ‘the best dressed man in the room’

Family’s heartache after dad’s shock death ‘Everyone he touched felt a special connection with him’

A family has told of their heartbreak following the shock death of a popular dad.

Former Canterbury schoolboy Jay Chandler, 40, died unexpectedly last Tuesday, sparking a wave of tributes. The quantity surveyor, who went to the city’s Simon Langton Boys’ School, had two sons, Jake, 19 and Charlie, six.

His widow, Hannah, 31, posted online: “Your kindness is what I’ve been holding on to so much in these few hours. He was my everything and then some. My heart is so sad and forever broken. Charlie is doing OK after us telling him today.

“I just want you all to know I’ll be holding on to these promises to help us as I’ve just lost my main boy forever and my other main boy needs all of us to talk about his daddy.”

Close friend Dave Woodger said he was extremely popular and loved cars and motorbikes. He said: “Jay was the most fashionable and stylish person you could meet. He was the best dressed man in the room and could just throw something on and look good, much to the annoyance of his friends.”

Other family and friends paid tribute to Mr Chandler, describing him as “a much loved husband, father, son, brother and friend”. Everyone he touched felt a special connection with him,” they added. “You could not of wanted to meet and kinder, more caring individual. He was a gift that has been taken away from all who he loved and all who loved him.”

Mr Chandler lived in Boughton Monchelsea and was a regular at Park Wood’s Ironworks gym, which posted online: “Jay was truly one of the good guys – a hugely likeable, charming, funny and kind man who genuinely enriched my life, and many other’s lives. He will be sorely missed. RIP brother.”

Two fundraising pages have been set up in Mr Chandler’s memory – one to help with funeral costs and another as a trust fund for his youngest son.

The funeral fund – bit.ly/jaychandlerfuneral – has raised almost £7,000, while the total on the trust fund page – bit. ly/charliechandler – stands at almost £2,500. The cause of Mr Chandler’s death has not been revealed. His funeral will be held on Monday, December 5. The Canterbury Auction Galleries has chosen the city’s Salvation Army corps as its nominated charity for 2017.

But such is the urgent need of the charity, that the company has already made an early donation to pay for a new fridge freezer, hot water boiler, a set of commercial cookware and two pop-up gazebos.

It also plans to support a music project and to allow children from all backgrounds and abilities to have music lessons for just 50p, with the charity set to benefit from a sum of about £5,000.

As part of the Christmas celebrations at the saleroom, the Salvation Army band will perform Christmas carols from 3pm during the auction preview day on Sunday, November 27, where a collection will be taken. The Kent MS Therapy Centre is holding its Christmas market and coffee morning between 9am and 3pm on Saturday.

Visitors will be able to browse among festive craft stalls, while children can visit Santa’s Grotto.

There will also be a Christmas raffle and tombola at the venue in Merton Lane North.