Tributes paid after death of popular Eastbourne man

Warm tributes have flooded in following the death of a popular Eastbourne man.
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Tommy Tomlin passed away at St Wilfrid’s Hospice on Sunday evening with his partner Emma Heather by his side. He was 58 and had been battling lung cancer since 2018.

Mr Tomlin, a former Royal Marine with K Company 42 Commando who served in the Falklands War, was originally from Sheffield but moved with his parents Hazel and Ken and twin sister Belinda to Hailsham and later Eastbourne in the 1980s.

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When he left the military he went on to work in the building industry and in close protection security as well as on the doors of Eastbourne nightclubs. Mr Tomlin also retrained and worked as a welding inspector in Siberia.

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Tommy Tomlin SUS-201022-105728001

In his spare time Mr Tomlin was a popular figure at Eastbourne Rugby Club and a regular at The Victoria Pub in Latimer Road.

His partner of 10 years Emma said Mr Tomlin was a big character, a real gentleman with a great sense of fun and humour.

She said, “He was the love of my life. He had everyone’s back, was very protective. Everybody knew him.”

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Eastbourne veteran Brian Gilbert, who served with Mr Tomlin in the Royal Marines, said, “He was a very special loyal friend. He has been in great pain for months, but never let it show, always posting his daily corny jokes.”

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Eastbourne Rugby Club stalwart John Feakins said, “It is sad news that our old friend and rugby comrade Tommy Tomlin has died. We have many happy memories of rugby matches, tours and nights at The Victoria. He was completely irrepressible, irreverent and unforgettable”

Mr Tomlin’s full military funeral is on Friday November 6 at 11am at Eastbourne Crematorium with donations in his memory to cancer charities or St Wilfrid’s Hospice.