Tributes have been paid to a "legendary" former head of security and crew boss at Rock City who died this week.
Derek Rate, known by friends and family as 'Rat', worked at the well-known Nottingham club during the 1980s and 1990s.
Regarded as a 'big man with a personality to match', Rat was well-known by those who frequently visited the nightclub in previous decades.
While a cause of death has not formally been announced, the former employee of Rock City who was from Spalding, Lincolnshire, passed away on August 23 aged 67.
George Akins, owner of the venue and managing director of DHP, which runs Rock City said: "Rat was a big man with a personality to match, he had a huge part to play in my early life running Rock City, as my head of security and also the stage crew boss.
"I have so many wonderful memories of him from his shoulder shaking laugh to catching punters with ease as they surfed over our barrier.
"He was a great man and will be sorely missed by my family and me as well as everyone he worked with and looked after at Rock City."
Another tribute has been written by Stapleford councillor at Broxtowe Borough Council, Richard MacRae who used to work alongside Mr Rate.
He added: "I spent 13 years as a door supervisor before I was a Councillor. I worked at the Horn In Hand which was just down from Rock City.
"I always nipped up after my shift as our venue closed earlier. Always had a chat with Rat and he always told me to tuck my badge in as I didn't work that door and he let me in.
"All the years I worked the doors I never had the pleasure of working Rock City but it was the one place I would have liked to have work. He will be missed by so many as the tributes on the Rock City Facebook page show."
Nottinghamshire Live has attempted to make contact with Mr Rate's family.
Other tributes have been left in memory of Mr Rate on social media describing him as 'legendary' and as a "gentleman
Hazel Jackson said: "I first met Rat 43 years ago and although I didn’t know him well through the years he was always a big presence in and around many of the places and events that were a big part of my life.
"He was always happy to have a chat and would help if you were in need of it. Very sad to hear of his passing and will never forget this great man."
Another comment added: "R. I. P Rat, so many memories from back in the day. A legend, a true gentleman and a scholar. You will be missed by all of us who knew you from Rock City."
Victoria Rice-Heaps said: "Oh no. Bless him. He's helped carry me in my wheelchair up and down Rock City steps a lot of times.
"Rest in peace mate. So sorry he's gone."
Mole Ettridge added in another comment: "This man started me off on my long career at Rock City. He gave me my first load-in job, doing local crew back in 1989.
"I am proud to say I still do the occasional load in/ out there to this day. Thank you, Rat, for your respect and most of all, your friendship.
'Sleaford Boy's' right. Neither of us were from Sleaford, but I first met him there when I was 17 (1977) and we always used to see each other in Sleaford all the time."
