The family of David Darke, a 66-year-old hotel worker, have paid an emotional tribute to the 'devoted' father and grandfather who tragically died after an attack outside a village pub. Known to his loved ones as Dave, Mr Darke sustained severe head injuries and passed away in hospital on Saturday, December 27, six days after he was punched outside The Crown Public House in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, on Sunday, December 21.

In a heartfelt statement released by his family, Mr Darke was remembered as 'a deeply loved father to three daughters and a proud grandfather to three boys'. They added, 'He was a much-loved brother and a dear friend. Dave will live on forever in our hearts, minds and souls.' The family described him as 'a strong, active, intelligent and kind person who was a friend to all' and 'a devoted family man with a deep passion for life, the outdoors, nature and walking'. His life, they stated, 'was tragically cut short and he's now reunited with his loving, caring parents. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.'

A 36-year-old man, initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, was later re-arrested on suspicion of murder following Mr Darke's death and remains in police custody. Leicestershire police confirmed that an investigation into Mr Darke's death is being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), and officers have appealed for anyone with information who has not yet spoken to them to come forward.

Emergency services were first called to Church Street in Appleby Magna, less than half a mile from Mr Darke's home, just before 9:45 pm on Sunday, December 21. Mr Darke passed away at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham on Saturday. A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, described Mr Darke as a 'very nice man' who worked at a local hotel and lived alone in a smart bungalow in the picturesque village on the edge of the National Forest. The neighbour expressed the widespread sentiment, saying, 'It's so very sad. Everyone is very shocked.'

The incident has sent shockwaves through the typically quiet community. Chris Adams, 71, who resides next door to The Crown, stated, 'We've been here for 24 years and it's very unusual for anything like this to happen. We were shocked because it's such a quiet village and such a lovely pub. The landlady at The Crown does a tremendous job. The pub is at the centre of the community and we've never known of any trouble there.' Millie Newall, 21, living a few doors down from the pub, recalled her father calling the ambulance after witnessing the incident. She remarked, 'It's quite scary. But things like this do happen. It's a quiet village and it's strange for something like this to happen here.'

Paul and Julie Sambrook, who have lived in the village for five years, also expressed their disbelief. Mr Sambrook commented, 'It's totally out of the blue. You never feel any atmosphere at all in either of the pubs in the village. It's a friendly, cordial drinking establishment.' Mrs Sambrook echoed this sentiment, adding, 'It's quite a shock. It's totally out of character for this village. We've never come across anything like this before.'