A HEARTBROKEN mother last night paid tender tribute to her 33-year-old son who died after an epileptic fit.

Dave Gooderham

A HEARTBROKEN mother last night paid tender tribute to her 33-year-old son who died after an epileptic fit.

Brave Jonathan Warriner was born with hydrocephalus - commonly known as water on the brain - and suffered more than 130 life-threatening episodes.

But his mother, Marion Soper , revealed how he bravely built a life for himself, never moaning about his problems and living independently.

She also paid tribute to the kind-hearted community of Sudbury, where her son was a familiar face and which helped him when he suffered epileptic fits while out in the town.

She said: “Jonathan was kind, generous and thoughtful, whose family and partner meant more to him than anything else.

“He was very brave and had the 'best of British' qualities - he was very strong, stoical and honest. Even though stubborn could have been his middle name, he would never complain or moan about what he was going through and I was very proud to call him my son.

“I think his disability and the way he coped with it was what made him special. He will be greatly missed by his family and all those who knew him.”

Mr Warriner, who lived in Suffolk Road, Sudbury, was able to live a full life and he was a regular and familiar face around the town.

Educated at Beacon Hill School and then the Thomas Wolsey School, both in Ipswich, he also attended Bradbury Courtyard for the last 12 years, learning new skills and meeting his life partner Louise Scurr , described by Mrs Soper as his rock.

“They were very much a normal couple,” said Mrs Soper, who lives in Layham, near Hadleigh. “They would fight like anyone else but they were most certainly each other's rock and complimented each other very well. It was lovely that both of them had each other.”

Mrs Soper praised her son's thoughtfulness and generosity often buying his mother presents and never forgetting anyone's birthday.

She added: “I would like to thank local people who stopped and helped Jonathan when he suffered epileptic attacks while out in the town.

“It means so much when people do not just walk on by, surely one of the advantages of living in a small town like Sudbury. We would also like to thank the staff at the Bradbury Courtyard whose value to someone like Jonathan cannot be underestimated.”

Mr Warringer died on July 30 and a celebration of life ceremony was held at Sudbury Cemetery.