TRIBUTES have been paid to a man who grew up in Bradford who has died of a rare form of cancer just a day after he got married.

Father-of-one Luke Wheatley died of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), on Thursday. He was 34.

He was originally from the Bradford district but moved to near Grimsby where he worked in the taproom at town bar, Docks Beers.

He lived in Eccleshill, Bolton in Bradford and Apperley Bridge during his childhood and youth, before moving to Cleethorpes where his wife, Melissa, was from three years ago. They have a daughter together, Matilda, who is three.

The former St Bede's student and Melissa were due to get married in Cleethorpes next month. But they brought forward their wedding day to last Wednesday, as the pair were married at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, near Kingston-upon-Hull, where Mr Wheatley was receiving treatment.

 

His sister, Rachel Wheatley, 31, paid tribute to him. She described her brother as being a big fan of beer, music and Bradford City.

She said: "He was quite quiet, but the more you got to know him, he would open up more.

"He was really kind. He was calm and you never saw him stressed.

"He loved working at the bar so much. He was so into his ale. He was a very cool person.

"He had a really lovely last day. He got married and enjoyed the day.

"He did not have Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma for long. He was diagnosed with it in April this year."

Docks Beers also paid tribute to Mr Wheatley with a heartbreaking post on social media: "A post we hoped we would never have to write.

"Sadly this morning our dear friend & Docks team member Luke, peacefully passed away in the arms of his wife Melissa.

"Many of you may have known Luke from our taproom. He had recently been away from work to undergo treatment for Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Devastatingly his cancer was resistant to the chemotherapy.

"The Docks family send our love and condolences to Melissa, his daughter Matilda, and all of his family. We are truly sorry for your loss, and are heartbroken for you all.

"Luke, you will be missed."

Grimsby Town Football Club also paid tribute to Luke on social media, tweeting: "Sorry to hear this guys. The thoughts of those at Grimsby Town FC are with Luke's friends and family."