MANY tributes have been paid to a popular Thurrock man who died in a motorbike accident in Scotland.

Julian Wiseman, 57, was well-known in the borough, both for his work as a maths teacher through his Tilbury-based private tutoring company Wisemaths and as secretary of the Grays Athletic Walking Football Club.

Before setting up the tutoring service, Mr Wiseman worked both as a college lecturer and as a secondary school teacher in Kent for 15 years.

He was particularly known among the growing circle of walking footballers in the south Essex region and in the days after his death, which happened on Saturday, 24 July on the M74 motorway in Lanarkshire, many footballers paid tribute to him with a memorial reading and a minute's silence at a local tournament.

His Grays Athletic teammates read out a poem, had a picture of Mr Wiseman behind their goal and also hung his number six shirt on their goal for each game.

A statement from Mr Wiseman's family says: "We would like to extend condolences to all of those affected by his loss, particularly to all of his students who always meant so much to him.

"Words cannot express what a kind, caring, compassionate and supportive person Julian was and he will be sorely missed by everybody who had the pleasure of knowing him."

Those words have been echoed by many others in he days following his death.

A statement from Grays Athletic says: "Julian and his best friend from university formed the club back in 2017 and since that time Julian had been pivotal in the success of the club.

"From a few players in those early days, to a club that is now supporting over 45 regular players, with three competing teams of over 50s, 60s and 65s.

"As a Secretary, Julian was very organised and registered our teams in both The Essex Walking Football League and in the TRA. Julian excelled as a player and his expertise helped the Over 50s team in achieving runners up in the TRA Cup competition in 2018.

"Julian was a very warm and friendly person who engaged with all players in the club to encourage them to play better. He organised and run a number of events at our home ground and was usually found picking up the whistle to referee games, usually at a moments notice.

"He was always the go-to person for any issues, which he resolved quickly."

Mr Wiseman, who had only recently recovered from cancer, leaves his partner Wendy, daughter Beccy and son Sam.

Donations to Cancer Research UK would be greatly appreciated by his family and the club.