Larger than life and always smiling, this is tragic Mark Connelly who died after collapsing in the Bigg Market.
Friends of the popular city pubs regular have paid tribute to their pal, saying Newcastle has lost one of its biggest characters.
It is understood Mark, whose real name is John, had been out for a drink with a pal when he collapsed while walking from the Beehive to the Rose and Crown, at around 5.30pm on Monday night.
Eyewitnesses said passing police officers attempted to revive him, but nothing could be done to save his life and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mark, who is thought to be from the Felling area of Gateshead, was a familiar face around the pubs in Newcastle city centre, and a regular at the Beehive, the Rose and Crown, the Duke of Northumberland and Pumphrey's Bar.
Fellow drinkers at his favourite haunts were told of the sad news when they turned up for their morning pint.
And tears flowed at the Duke of Northumberland, also known as the Clock, as staff and customers heard of their pal's death.
Barmaid Mary McDaid said: "He was in here nearly every day. Everybody knew him. There's been people crying in here this morning."
Rose and Crown customer Bill Irwing has also paid tribute to Mark.
The 75-year-old, from Benwell, said: "He was one of the city's biggest characters without a doubt. He was very well liked. He was always happy. He will be a big miss."
Mary, who has worked at the Clock for 17 years, said Mark had been in good spirits when he came to the pub last Monday to celebrate his 50th birthday.
"He was singing on the Karaoke," said Mary, 45, from Fenham.
And Lynne Wright, 60, from Gosforth, who works with Mary behind the bar, added: "He was just happy-go-lucky. He liked to sing and dance. If anyone was short of money he would buy them a pint. He will be a miss, he really will."
Rose and Crown worker Emma Wilson said she never imagined it would be Mark when she heard of the tragedy.
The 38-year-old was told of her customer's death when she arrived at work on Tuesday.
"I wasn't here on Monday night but a few of the regulars ran out to try and help," she said. "When I came in this morning and they said it was Mark it was such a shock to hear.
"He's drank in here for years. He was lovely. He was mad as a hatter but he was dead canny. He would do anything for you.
"If I was on my own at the bar he would help out, or if it was busy he would go to Greggs and get me a sandwich. He had a heart of gold.
"I don't think he had a bad bone in his body. He was dead placid."
Another Rose and Crown regular, Pete Bowman, 63, from Benwell, added: "He was a character. He was a good laugh. He always has a smile on his face. I would bump into him in all the pubs."
Staff and customers at the Clock are now planning to raise money for Mark's family.
Bar manager, Joseph Chappell, 32, said: "He was such a good lad. He never had a bad word to say about anyone.
"He was in my pub celebrating his birthday last Monday singing George Ezra's Shotgun on the Karaoke."
