A FATHER of two who died when he was struck by a train was yesterday remembered by his widow as a social and family man.Daniel Adams, 31, died shortly after noon on November 22 at Great Bentley railway station when he was in collision with the 11.

By Roddy Ashworth

A FATHER of two who died when he was struck by a train was yesterday remembered by his widow as a social and family man.

Daniel Adams, 31, died shortly after noon on November 22 at Great Bentley railway station when he was in collision with the 11.54 service from Colchester to Clacton.

Yesterday Paulette Adams said that Daniel - who was known as Danny - was a popular and funny man who liked going out and spending time with his friends.

"We met at a nightclub," she said. "We have been together for about nine or 10 years."

The couple married on September 6 1997 at a church in St Osyth, the North Essex village where Mrs Adams' parents lived.

For a while Mr Adams - who came from Sudbury - moved into the family home at St Osyth but around eight years ago he and his wife moved to Great Bentley.

The couple had two children, Gabrielle, aged four, and Luke, aged one-and-a-half.

"They are not too bad," said Mrs Adams yesterday. "They are up and down."

Mr Adams had been the manager of a home in Brightlingsea for people with learning disabilities. He was twice the best man at weddings for residents based there, Mrs Adams said.

"He was an avid Chelsea fan - he loved his football," she added. "He was a funny, outgoing bloke who enjoyed socialising with other people.

"He liked all sorts of music. He had a dry sense of humour. People will miss that. It was a tragic accident."

Mr Adams' funeral will be held at St Osyth Church - where the couple married - tomorrow at 11.45am.

An inquest has been opened into his death. A spokesman for British Transport Police said the accident was not being treated as suspicious.