TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known DJ who died suddenly just days before Christmas.
Alan Addleton was a DJ at pubs, clubs and hundreds of parties in Hartlepool and East Durham and used his role to help raise thousands of pounds for charity.
But dad-of-two Alan, who was known as Big Al, sadly passed away on December 21 last year after suffering a heart attack, at just 50 years old.
Following his funeral at a packed St Mary’s Church, in Horden, on Monday, his family and friends paid tribute to a “top man” who will be sorely missed by many.
His devastated daughter Kim Atherton, 27, said: “My dad was good fun, he always had a smile on his face.
“He hadn’t looked himself for a couple of weeks, but we had no idea what was coming.
“He was looking forward to Christmas so much.”
Kim, a mum-of-two, who lives in Horden and is a full time student, said her fondest memory of her dad was him walking her down the aisle as she married her husband Stephen, 41.
“He was always so supportive of us and that will always be my best memory of my dad,” she added.
Alan, a granddad of three who was also a dad of Kayleigh Addleton, 25, who is five months pregnant, grew up in Horden before moving to Hartlepool.
But he moved back to Horden at the start of last year.
His best friend and fellow DJ, Peter Cockburn, 50, who also lives in Horden, said: “Al was my best mate for 27 years, it was such a shock when I heard the news, I’m still in shock now.
“He was a brilliant man, he knew everybody and he would do anything for you.
“The money he must have raised for charities over the years will be staggering, anything he could do to raise money he would do.
“The church was absolutely packed out and that just showed how popular Al was.”
Another close friend of Alan’s and fellow DJ, Chris Lavender, 37, who lives in the Dyke House area of Hartlepool, said: “Al wasn’t the type to be miserable.
“He was a top man and brilliant to be around.
“I’ve got some fantastic memories.”