A family have paid tribute to a “funny, courageous, handsome and loving” son who died from a brain tumour.

Sam MacDonald, 27, from Wenhaston, was diagnosed with the tumour in June 2011 and died on January 23 this year.

His father, Neil MacDonald, said: “He’s my best friend. He is going to leave an enormous hole in everyone’s lives.”

Sam, who was a chef at the Greyhound in Pettistree, enjoyed his food and his favourite meal, after his mum’s cooking, was curry.

His mother Dawn MacDonald said that he once took part in an Indian marathon with his friends, where he had a curry every night for a week.

She said: “He was funny, courageous, handsome and loving. It was an absolute joy to spend time with him.”

Sam’s sister Holly, who said she used to argue with him as a child, said: “We had a long and interesting journey to find each other but we did it in the end.”

Sam was also a very proud uncle of his four month old niece Thea, who he wanted to”show off” to all his friends.

He was passionate about farming and the countryside, so much so that rather than having a bicycle as a child, he had a pedal tractor and trailer.

So passionate was Sam about farming that his coffin will be arriving on a trailer towed by a tractor, surrounded by hay bales and sugar beet.

He also enjoyed watching Ipswich Town, and went to games regularly.

When Sam was in St Elizabeth Hospice, he was visited by Ipswich Town players Luke Hyam, Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith.

The family said: “We would like to give our thanks to Addenbrooke’s and St Elizabeth Hospice for all of their expertise, care and support.”

The family requested donations be sent to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where they say Sam felt safe.

The funeral takes place from 2pm today at St Peter’s Church in Wenhaston.