A DAUGHTER has told of her shock at the loss of her father who has died after a short battle with cancer.

Jo Anne Pockney said Alan Pockney was a “legend, the king of Saltdean”.

Alan, 73, owned The Gift Shop in Longridge Avenue, Saltdean, and was working up to New Year’s Eve when he started to fall ill.

He was diagnosed with cancer in January and died on February 2. The cancer had spread from his kidney to his liver.

He leaves his wife, Christine, children Jo Anne and Robert and four grandchildren, Billy, Reece, Ellie-Mae and Jayden.

The family said it was a huge shock to all of them but said they have been “overwhelmed” with the response from people in Saltdean. They have received more than 300 cards since Alan’s death.

Jo Anne said: “He was the face of the gift shop day in day out, seven days a week for the last 20 years. My dad would talk to anybody. Everybody loved him. He was football mad, sport mad.

The Argus: Alan with his wife Christine, and with his son RobertAlan with his wife Christine, and with his son Robert

“The kids would love to see Alan, he would give them lollipops and if they didn’t have enough money he would say ‘just have that’ or in the summer he would give them an ice cream.

“People in the community are saying their children and even grandchildren are so sad they won’t be able to see Alan from the gift shop any more.

“It was such a huge shock, not just to us as a family, but for the whole Saltdean community. We didn’t know my dad was ill.

The Argus: Alan and his grandchildren, Jayden, front, Ellie-Mae, left, Reece, right, Billy, rearAlan and his grandchildren, Jayden, front, Ellie-Mae, left, Reece, right, Billy, rear

"Every January they go to Spain. He looked tired on Boxing Day but we didn’t know he was ill, he was never poorly.

“He got taken ill in Spain which is when we found out he had cancer. Within three weeks of finding out, he had lost his fight with cancer. He didn’t suffer but we as a family had just three weeks.”

Alan was cared for by Martlets Hospice at his home in Saltdean and told his family that he wanted to give back to the charity for to the care it gave him.

Jo Anne said: “My dad’s final words to my mum were ‘please give the Martlets something back’ because of their care, love and dignity for my dad and what they did for him at home. We cannot fault the NHS or the Martlets.

The Argus: Alan and Christine's shopAlan and Christine's shop

“What they do is second to none so my dad wanted to give something back and that is why we have started a fundraiser."

It has already made more than £5,000 in just over a week.

Jo Anne said: “It’s just amazing. My dad was all about charity and he would be so honoured and proud that he’s done this.

“It’s not like we’re arranging a funeral for our father, it’s like we’re arranging a funeral for the king of Saltdean. So many people want to be there.”

The funeral will be on Monday, February 21, at 10.30am at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Steyning Road, Rottingdean. The procession will be stopping outside The Gift Shop in Longridge Avenue at 10.10am. The family say all are welcome to pay their respects to Alan.

For more information, visit the website and the fundraising page.

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