Tributes have been paid to a kind-hearted pensioner who died just days after celebrating his platinum wedding anniversary.

James Fowler, who lived with wife Ivy at Alexander Care Court, Rainham Road South, Dagenham, suffered a fatal heart attack on Friday (September 21).

Two days previously the Post featured a piece on the 90-year-old and Ivy’s platinum wedding anniversary.

He leaves behind Ivy, three surviving children, nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Son-in-law Dave Howard, 59, said James had reached several goals before his death.

“There was a list of things Jim wanted to see before he died,” he said, “the birth of his latest great-grand child, for one of my son’s to finish his house, another grandchild to pass his taxi driver exams, and to celebrate his 70th wedding anniversary.

“Every one of these goals was achieved in the weeks before he died, which is great.”

James’s daughter and Dave’s wife Gillian, 56, paid tribute to her father.

She said: “Everyone loved him. He was outgoing and youthful for most of his life. We are sad to have lost him.”