A CROWDFUNDING campaign has been launched to pay for the funeral of a well loved character from a Chapelford pub.
Paul Proctor was just 28 when he tragically died of a suspected heart attack on Wednesday.
His younger brother Luke fought in vain to save his life – giving CPR for more than 20 mins until the paramedics were able to take over.
'Loyal, hard working and committed' Paul worked as head chef at Chapelford Farm and had been with the Greene King pub for three years.
Paul was hit hard when his mum died a couple of years ago and he moved in with his brother Luke so they could help each other get through it.
Vini Kneale, who runs Chapelford Farm, said: "Luke is going to find it so tough without his brother so that is why we set up the crowdfunding page.
"We wanted to take the pressure off with the funeral. If you look at the messages and the donations on that page, it just speaks volumes of how well people thought of Paul.
"He was such a nice person. It's been awful for all the team and particularly Anthony, our kitchen manager, as he was Paul's best mate. It's such a loss.
"He'd not been well for a while and he'd just deteriorated. He'd been having a difficult time due to what was happening Covid."
The Justgiving page has already raised £2,340 – hitting its target of £1,750.
A statement on the page said: "As close friends of Paul and Luke we just feel we need to help and support Luke in whatever way we can and we are hoping those that know Paul and Luke will do the same.
"We are reaching out to family and friends in order to support Luke and raise some money to help towards Paul's funeral in order to ease some of the pain and worry that Luke is going through at this time.
"We know times are hard for everyone at the moment but even the smallest donation towards Paul's funeral we would be eternally grateful for.
"We just want to show Luke that he is not on his own and together we can give Paul the best send off and the goodbye that he deserves."
On the Chapelford Farm Facebook page, it said the team were 'completely devastated'.
"Paul was a valued hardworking team member and will be greatly missed by us all," it added.
To donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/for-paul-and-luke
