Tributes have been paid to a “kind, helpful and caring” man with a “heart of gold” who died after he was in a collision with a truck close to his home in Sudbury.

Rodney Williams, 69, known locally as Pip, died at the scene of the incident in Newton Road, which happened last Wednesday around 1.10pm near the junction with Chelsea and Ingrams Well roads.

Two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were called to the scene but the emergency services were unable to revive him.

Mr Williams, who was walking with his wife at the time, has been described by friends as a “very decent chap” while his family have spoken of their shock and grief. In a statement, they said: “Rodney Williams, known to many as Pip, has lived most of his life in Sudbury. He enjoyed being in the community with so many friends, some of whom go back to his school days at Sudbury Grammar.

“We are all shocked at the suddenness of his death, while making one of his regular walking trips into town with his wife Helen.

“We would like to offer our gratitude and thanks to the wonderful emergency teams from the police and ambulance service, our neighbours and friends who were so supportive and kind in the aftermath of this terrible accident.

“Helen has really appreciated the many calls from family and friends, as they seek to provide comfort to her at this difficult time. He will be deeply missed by all his family.”

Mr Williams, who worked in finance for many years, was brought up in the Haverhill area although he had been actively involved in the Sudbury community for several decades serving as a vice-president of Sudbury Cricket Club. His wife Helen was a long-standing magistrate and a governor of the former Uplands Middle School.

They have two children and three grandchildren and according to Graeme Garden, a close friend of Mr Williams for around 30 years, they were the centre of his world.

Mr Garden said: “Pip lived right opposite us – he was a lovely man and it is impossible to say anything other than praise for him.

“He never pushed himself forward and was very modest with a deep sense of interest in other people and he had a heart of gold.

“He was a generous, caring man who was also well respected for his knowledge in financial circles.”

Alan Barrett, chairman of Sudbury Grammar School Old Boys’ Association, said Mr Williams was a pupil at the former grammar school and a keen member of the old boys’ club.

He added: “I also met up with him regularly at the Newton Green Luncheon Club which he was a member of too.

“He was always a very helpful person, willing to come to the aid of anyone with a problem. He was a very decent sort of chap and I am absolutely shocked that he has gone.”