Tributes have poured in after the sudden death of a beloved Mansfield ice cream man who served the area for 40 years. Michael Connolly, known widely as 'Mick the ice cream man', died of a heart attack on January 15, aged 68.
Described as "kind and loving" by one of his four children, Emma Spencer, Michael was said to have "gone out of his way for everybody". Ms Spencer, a 33-year-old gymnastics instructor who lives in Creswell, told Nottinghamshire Live: "He was so kind, he'd do anything for anybody, nothing was too much trouble.
"He went out his way for everybody and was so loving. He had three grandchildren that he absolutely adored and did everything for."
Read more: Landlord 'takes possession' of Nottinghamshire shop but company continues
Michael, originally from Sunderland, aimed to be a primary school teacher after getting a degree from Sunderland Polytechnic (now University of Sunderland). However his plans changed when he met his wife, Dawn, who lived in Worksop, with the pair eventually moving to Mansfield in the 1980s.
In 1982, Michael loaded his ice cream van for the first time. "He enjoyed doing his runs and his own hours," said Ms Spencer. "He enjoyed seeing his customers and saw them throughout the generations.
"He used to take parents' numbers and phone them to say he was coming round, particularly for autistic children to make sure they weren't alarmed." Michael was an avid football fan and supporter of Sunderland A.F.C, and died in his sleep at a hotel after watching the Black Cats play Swansea City.
Ms Spencer said her dad's death was "totally unexpected", adding: "It's been extremely difficult, it doesn't seem real. I have two children, aged seven and two, and one of them is not going to remember him."
Since his death, Michael has received a swathe of tributes via a post by his son Paul on the Mansfield Facebook page. "When my brother put a post on the Facebook group I asked 'why have you done that?'" said Ms Spencer.
"But the amount of comments have been unbelievable. More people knew him than I realised." Michael leaves behind his wife Dawn, children Peter, Paul, Emma and Steven and grandchildren Rhianna, Joey and Freddie.
READ NEXT:
Areas of Nottinghamshire where people earn most and least confirmed
Nottingham nurse hopes for last-option treatment so she can have 'precious memories' with daughter
Government's latest message to Nottingham City Council should be a 'very clear warning'
Relief as future of Debenhams building shoppers are 'fed up' of seeing is discussed
Takeaway launches UK's biggest chippy tea weighing more than 1st
