Many glasses of a builder's tipple were raised in a toast during a fitting farewell outside his favourite pub.

Builders turned out in their droves this morning to pay their respects to Dave 'Smiffy' Smith who died suddenly on November 19 just six days before he would have marked his 50th birthday.

The former Parochial and Deal Sec boy was a larger than life character and self-proclaimed celebrity whose death prompted an outpouring of grief from friends and family on social media.

This morning the town's tradesmen and his many friends gathered outside his favourite pub, The Forester in The Marina to honour him as his cortège took him on a specially planned detour past the boozer.

When he arrived, some made a toast and others clapped. Many were stationed further down the road where our video was filmed. From there they followed the hearse to Hamilton Road Cemetery where a private family burial took place.

Mr Smith was married to childhood sweetheart Nik. Together they had three children Sam, 26, Ryan, 21, Lauren, 19 and a seven-year-old grandson, Stanley.

Speaking after his death his wife said: "He was the kindest person I'd ever met.

"Dave was famous in Deal for just being Dave; his big smile, being out and about in his slippers or in his beloved truck, driving round town pretending to be busy.

"He was full of life, generous and hilariously inappropriate at times.

"He used to refer to himself as a celebrity of Deal.

"He'd love to be remembered as that!"

He regularly enjoyed a glass of Southern Comfort and lemonade at The Forester, where he had a soft spot for landlady Margaret or at The Farrier in Upper Deal.

Today Mrs Smith thanked his friends for the flowers, cards and condolences received.

His popularity was clear seeing the amount of people who lined The Marina for his final farewell.

Mr Smith was born and bred in the town. He attended Parochial Primary and Deal Secondary before qualifying as a bricklayer from a Thanet college, aged 16.

His career began working on the Channel Tunnel and at 23, he continued working in the construction field with friends in Germany.

Throughout the rest of his working life he divided his time between many tunnel projects and building works, including building six houses for himself and his family. He was also involved in the construction of Matthews Close in Deal.

Mrs Smith said: "He absolutely loved his work, more so because of the social side of it, mixing with lots of people and other builders.

"He was proud of all of his work. He genuinely believed in himself and his projects."

His generosity spilled out to the people he'd meet, with gestures such as supplying a cheeseboard for all the locals at the pub every Sunday.

He enjoyed holidays and travelling across Europe to watch games of football with his sons.

He had plans to travel more including a big holiday with friends to celebrate his 50th birthday which would have been on November 25.

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