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Tributes to a naturalist and a 'true gentleman': Brian Payne
FRIENDS and relatives of a man who may have been poisoned by deadly fungi have paid tribute to a "true gentleman".
FRIENDS and relatives of a man who may have been poisoned by deadly fungi have paid tribute to a "true gentleman".Naturalist Brian Payne's 20-year-old passion for picking and eating wild mushrooms came to an end this week after he died just hours after tucking into his latest find.
It is believed the 60-year-old, who loved to be out in the countryside, had been out picking mushrooms in a field close to his home no less than 24 hours before he was found dead by one of his three daughters at his home in Hayes Walk, Elton, near Peterborough on September 22.
A post-mortem examination was undertaken at Papworth Hospital, in Huntingdon, the following day, but initial results were inconclusive.
Further tests are now being undertaken, including toxicological tests, relating to the possible ingestion of poisonous fungi.
Today, in a loving tribute, Mr Payne's sister Eunice Prior (51), from Yaxley, near Peterborough, said: "Everyone is upset by Brian's death. He loved his mushrooms, and always used to go picking them in the fields. It is sad to think his hobby may have killed him. He was a lovely brother and will be missed dearly."
Factory manager at Peterborough Web, Paul Nicolson worked with Mr Payne at the printworks in Oundle Road, Woodston, Peterborough.
He said: "I had a lot of time for Brian. He started at Peterborough Web in June 1981, and decided to go for an early retirement about 18 months ago.
"Brian was very much a gentleman. He had a lot of very old fashioned morals and standards and was a very polite and punctual person.
"He set an example to other members of staff, especially the younger ones who he would nurture.
"In his personal life, he would help out the elderly in his spare time, looking after their gardens or running them to the shops. He always looked out for other people and never had a bad thing to say about anyone.
"He was a very solid and dependable person.
"Brian loved gardening and walking, and would spend a lot of his spare time in the fields and countryside near his home.
"He was a bit of a connoisseur when it came to mushrooms, and loved picking the wild varieties. Sometimes he would bring punnets of them in for the guys at work which he had picked straight from the fields.
"Everyone at Peterborough Web, including former employees, is shocked by his death and have been calling in to pay their respects."
Mr Payne's funeral was due to be held today at Peterborough Crematorium at 11.30am.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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