Ipswich man Jason Bates remembered after inquest into death

Jason Bates, from Ipswich, died at the age of 53 on May 18 this year.

An inquest was opened at Suffolk Coroners' Court in Ipswich at the start of the month, with the court hearing his body was found on Lowestoft beach in north-east Suffolk.

The inquest concluded just before Christmas.

Mr Bates, who grew up in Felixstowe and attended Orwell and Deben high schools, moved to Ipswich as a teenager.

Mr Bates, from Ipswich, died in May (Image: Family)

He was well-known as a keen member of the biking community in Ipswich.

One of his daughters, Kelly Hart, described Mr Bates, who stood at 6ft 4ins tall, as a "big, strong man" and a role model for her children; Destiny, 12, Casey, seven, and Keano, five.

Miss Hart, who has a tattoo in remembrance, said she had found Christmas Day tough as it was her first without her father.

However, she remembered him as a popular man who "would help anyone who needed it".

Paying tribute, Miss Hart said: "It's been really hard without him this year – we always had a phone call with him on Christmas Day.

The 53-year-old was remembered as a popular figure (Image: Family)

"We might not have always seen him on the day, but we always knew he was there.

"He was a really amazing grandad with my kids. He'd always get them sweets and have chips with them when they were on a day out.

"They called him 'Grandad Bean' because he always wore a beanie. He always had funny names for my children, too.

"It feels like something is missing now – so many people loved him. I am so glad I got to spend time with him.

"He was just such a big, strong man. He was such a kind man inside who would help anyone who needed it."