Popular man dies suddenly (From Times Series)

Popular man from Grahame Park Estate, Colindale, dies suddenly

4:20pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By Chris Hewett

A popular man who “would help anyone” has died following a sudden illness.

Martin Taylor suffered complications from a bowel ulcer and his life support machine was switched off last Tuesday, September 18.

The 45-year-old lived on the Grahame Park Estate in Colindale for almost his entire life before moving to Tenterden Drive, in Hendon, for the past three years.

Music lover Mr Taylor never married but lived with a former girlfriend for 18 years and helped raise her two children.

He was well known around the estate for his antics as a teenager and his personality as an adult.

His younger sister Tracy Taylor, 43, described him as her best friend.

The mother-of-five said: “He would help anyone. He wasn’t always the best behaved and he was a bit of a rascal when he was younger but he was turning his life around when he died.”

Mr Taylor and his sister helped nurse their mother for a time before she died of cancer five years ago.

His passing comes just three days after the fifth anniversary of his mother’s death and his sister says she has been left devastated.

Miss Taylor, who lives in Colchester, said: “I’m still grieving for my mum so this has been hard to deal with on top.

“He was a popular man – there are so many people coming to the funeral. I have received donations from so many friends and family to help pay for his funeral. It is overwhelming.”

Mr Taylor’s funeral will take place at Hendon Crematorium, in Holders Hill Road, on October 3. All who knew him are welcome.

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