THE family of a missing Newport man whose body was found last week said his death would would leave a big hole in their lives.

Father of five Dave Hampton, 64, from Pill, went missing on Thursday, May 23, and his body was found in the Queensway Meadows area of the city on Sunday May 26.

His family, including his children Gareth, 33, Lucy, 26, Christopher, 24, Daniel, 20 and Carys, six, say Dr Hampton was a loving and generous man and a ‘brilliant dad’.

His youngest daughter, Carys, turned six just a few days before he disappeared, and told her family she didn’t want her party unless her daddy was there.

His partner of 15 years and Carys’ mum, Sara Webb, 40, said: “We are going to hold her birthday party when everything has settled down.

She wanted a big princess themed one, and Dave loved spoiling her, so that’s what she’ll have.”

Ms Webb, a teaching assistant at Pentrepoeth Primary School in Bassaleg said: “We knew he was very ill, maybe even in a coma, but we thought he would be alive.

“We weren’t prepared for him to not be coming back.

He has left a big, big hole in all our lives.”

His family said Dr Hampton used to joke that when he arrived in Newport in 1978 from his home in Connah’s Quay, North Wales, he got straight off the train and into the nearest pub.

Ms Webb said: “He loved a pint, he loved diving and he made his own cider with a friend. He was so popular.

Everyone loved him.”

She added Dr Hampton loved his job and even used to go in on his day off and when he was sick, but that he was looking forward to retiring in December. Daughter Lucy said: “Everyone says their dad is the best dad in the whole world, but ours really was. He was brilliant.

“He was so generous and he wasn’t materialistic at all – he didn’t care about owning things, he was happy with what he had.

“He’d ask for nothing but give you everything.

“He would drive a friend to and from various hospital appointments in Swansea just to make sure they were alright. He was amazing.

“The support we’ve had has restored my faith in people.”

His son Daniel said: “He was happy, easy going and laid back.

“He loved joking around.

Nothing was too much for him and he was really proud of all of us.”

Ms Webb added: “He was everyone’s friend. The doorbell was constantly ringing from kids on the street asking him to fix their bikes.

“He used to keep a pump by the front door and he was constantly putting their stabilisers on for them, or taking them off.

“He was like Pill’s handyman.”

Royal Gwent colleagues helped search

DR HAMPTON worked as a biochemist in the pathology lab at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, and colleagues, friends and family, more than 100 in total, turned out on Sunday, May 26 to search for him.

His partner, Sara Webb, said: “We can’t thank everyone who has helped us because we would be here for days, but we would like to thank the travellers that saw him, offered him a cup of tea and lift home, and reported seeing him. If it wasn’t for them we would not have known what area he had been in that night, and might not have found him. We are so grateful.”