8:39am Wednesday 23rd December 2009
By Katie Bond
The family of popular dad Mark Dutton, who lost his courageous battle with cancer on Sunday, have vowed to celebrate Christmas just as he would have wanted.
Mr Dutton, 45, of Academy Drive, Corsham, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in October last year but was determined to live a normal life.
He went on a last holiday to Paris with wife Anna, 43, just three weeks before his death.
Mrs Dutton, and the couple’s children, Emily, 18 and Michael, 20, will be surrounded by family on Christmas day this year.
Mrs Dutton said: “Mark absolutely loved Christmas. He would wake up at 5am and say ‘can we wake the children up yet?’ and I’d tell him it was too early, but he was so excited.
“We will have all our family here for Christmas day to celebrate as Mark would have wanted us to.”
Mr Dutton, originally from Paignton, moved to Wiltshire in 1993 and set up a branch of the Swedish bank Handelsbanken in Bristol, which became the most successful branch outside London.
He was a governor at Corsham Primary School and The Corsham School for ten years.
Mrs Dutton said: “He was so well known and he loved living in Wiltshire but Devon is where we consider home.
“He was so positive and so brave. He never complained and he was the bravest man.
“He never said ‘why me?’, even when I thought it was just so unfair, he would say ‘we have to get on with it.’
“Not only was he diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, but it was the worst grading of tumour and it was in one of the worst places, but you would never have known from the outside that anything was wrong because he was such a strong and amazing person.
“I’d like to thank all the doctors in Corsham and district nurses who have helped us, they have been brilliant.”
Daughter Emily, who is studying French and Chinese at Nottingham University, said her dad’s bravery was an inspiration.
She said: “Dad was always so positive, whenever you asked him if he was okay he would always say yes and he was always smiling.”
Son Michael, who is in his final year studying Maths at Nottingham University, added: “Dad loved watching cricket and playing squash.
“We weren’t allowed Sky television in the house until the cricket coverage moved to Sky, then he changed the rules.
“He was always so healthy, I don’t ever remember him having a day off work.”
A celebration of Mr Dutton’s life will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church in Corsham on December 29 at 1pm followed by a gathering at Corsham Town Football Club.
Everyone who knew Mr Dutton is welcome to attend and wear bright colours in his memory.
Donations can be made to Dorothy House Hospice.
Leave your tributes to Mr Dutton below
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