Tributes have been paid to a man who died after falling from a ladder while putting up Union Jack flags on lampposts near his home in South Bristol.
Paul Lumber, 60, a painter and decorator, suffered fatal injuries on November 23. He was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness from an induced coma and died later last week.
Mr Lumber had launched an online fundraiser in October to gather funds for additional flags for his 'Raise the Colours' initiative, raising over £1,000 before his fall. After his accident, friends set up a second fundraiser which has so far raised over £5,000 for his family.
Described as a 'working-class hero', Mr Lumber was a lifelong Bristol City and England supporter. He was a prominent figure in the football casual scene of the 1980s and wrote two books about the City Service Firm, the group associated with Bristol City. He had recently married his partner of 23 years, Michele.
Sean Donnelly, landlord of the Three Lions pub in Bedminster, said he had known Mr Lumber since childhood and was heartbroken. 'All his stories were unique and unbelievable,' he said. 'But of all his achievements, marrying Michele was his biggest.'
Mr Lumber's debut book, 'It All Kicked Off In Bristol', chronicled his involvement with football hooligan culture and his subsequent departure. He was among the first in the country to receive a football banning order and served multiple prison sentences for football-related violence in his youth.
