TRIBUTES have flooded in from friends and family of Graham Trinder.

Known affectionately as Tommy, he died on November 8 after being shot by a police officer.

The 57-year-old from Rodbourne was a dad of two Louis, 25, and Charlie, 22.

Family friend Charlene Mills, who lived near Tommy on Summers Street, set up a tribute page on Facebook.

She said: “It’s to show his boys how loved he was and how much of a kind and caring guy he was.

“It shows how many people met him and share a little memory.”

Kerrilyn Anne Smith said: “He would always ring ask how my family were as he knew them. And he would update me on how Louis and Charlie were doing, and what they were up to. Telling me how proud of both of them he was. He was the nicest guy and would constantly see if he could help in anyway. He will be truly missed.”

Courtney Hunt said: “He was a great character and we will miss him coming in the shop to see us. Such an absolute top bloke.”

Amie Druett said: “He was the kindest person, had so much time for everyone and my fondest memories were when he spent time talking to my lad Alfie. Alfie was into boxing and Tommy used to give him tips. The best time was when my son had challenged him too some keepie uppies with an ice hockey stick and a tennis ball. Now my son has been playing hockey for eight years and is pretty darn good at it, but Tom was adamant that he would be able to beat Alfie, and as you can imagine he didn’t win and we all had a good laugh about.”

Jacquie Owden said: “My mum lived opposite to Tommy and he was a very good neighbour to her. He would stop and give her a lift home if he ever saw her out and about. When she had a stroke last year he was the first to ask if she needed help with anything, and when we went into lockdown earlier this year he popped a note through her door offering to do her shopping. Mum passed away in July, and I know Tommy was very upset, as she had been a neighbour of his for over 25 years. He was gutted he couldn’t attend her funeral because he was unwell and didn’t want to pass his cold on. Knowing what a lovely, thoughtful and funny guy he was, we were so shocked to hear what happened.”

Vicky Scanlon said: “I first met Tommy when my daughter Tia went to infant school with Charlie. Always a friendly man always had a smile on his face. In recent years, I would bump into him down the alley while walking my dog or in the corner shop. We always had a chat. He often asked how Tia was doing and he was so proud to tell me how the boys were getting on. He was so very proud of them and so he should be, he done a remarkable job bringing them up and they are lovely gentlemen just like there dad.”

Michael Johnson said: “Such a lovely man. RIP Tommy going to be missed by all.”

Karen Avery said: “He always stopped to say hello while we were walking our dog and he was always so kind and polite. He spoke and joked with us and he loved Millie (the dog). The other week he was asking her for her paw so she gave him one paw and then the other paw. He then gave her a big hug. You could tell he really enjoyed seeing her and that she liked him as much as he liked her and he told us to give her a treat for being good.

“I didn’t have any treats on me and he told me to make sure that when I got home I gave her a treat from him. I gave her that treat from him. And every day when I walk down the street and go back indoors she gets a treat from Tommy.”