Tributes are flooding in for a Gloucestershire businessman who has died suddenly at the age of 58.
Tracey Pope, operations and financial director of family-run vehicle tracking and fleet management company Protrack, passed away from a heart attack on January 3. He has been described by his family as a "gentle giant".
Hundreds of well wishers from the local business community have been offering their condolences and support, according to Mr Pope’s brother, Kevin, who is managing director of Protrack Group.
“[They] have blown us away with their comments of support,” he said. “Proof of the fellowship that Gloucestershire businesses have amongst themselves. Tracey was a huge man with a heart of gold to match, always smiling and cheerful. I am absolutely broken without him, he was always there for me growing up, I always felt protected and invincible with him.”
Mr Tracey Pope was born in Gloucester in 1964 to Ann and the late Brian Pope, and grew up in the county. After leaving Hucclecote Secondary Modern School, he had a varied career - including stints as a milkman and coalman and in the building trade at Travis Perkins - before joining his brother’s firm Protrack in 2010.
Protrack Group, on Bristol Road in Gloucester, specialises in innovative telematics, fleet management and security software solutions for all types of business.
The company has won numerous awards including best new and small business, and the innovation prize at the GloucestershireLive Business Awards, which is run in association with BusinessLive.
Mr Tracey Pope leaves behind a widow, Wendy, to whom he was married for 34 years, two children - James, 33, and Sophie 24 - and two grandchildren.
His funeral will be held on February 3, at 11.30am, at Gloucester Crematorium, with a wake at Wotton Hall club in Hucclecote. A celebration of his life will be held at the Cross Keys in the city centre from 7pm.
The family have asked for donations to Gloucester Feed the Hungry instead of flowers.
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