DENNY Knott - fondly remembered as a key figure at the heart of Southend's Fifties and Sixties youth culture - has died, aged 82.

Mr Knott, who lived in Warrior Square, was known to many in the town as an exuberant character with a zest for life.

For years, he drove around in an open-topped Rolls Royce and was a daily swimmer at Warriors Swim Centre. In his day, he loved rock'n'roll and was quite a jiver.

In the Fifties, he opened two hugely-popular coffee-bars in the Sixties.

Later he ran live music venues which fostered the talent of some of Southend's most famous musical sons, including Robin Trower and Gary Brooker.

Daughter Jenny Campbell, said: "Pop was a larger-than-life character.

"People have called us with their memories of him and said he was a legend in Southend.

"He came from humble beginnings and with his first wife, my mum, started a window-cleaning business with just a pram, ladder and a bucket.

"From there, he went on to open the first underground coffee bar, called the Capri, which was in Weston Road."

Mr Knott's business grew with another bar called the Jacobean, in Southchurch Road.

He also ran dancehalls at the London and the Cricketers, where local bands including The Paramounts played before going on to fame and fortune.

He owned property throughout the borough.

Mr Knott died in Southend Hospital on June 16 after contracting pneumonia.

He had suffered a number of strokes in recent times.

He also had two sons, Craig and Slade, from his second marriage, plus eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mrs Campbell said: "He was like Peter Pan.

"He never grew up or grew old. He loved to keep fit.

"He was always out and everybody seemed to know him.

"We want people who knew him to get in touch with the family with their memories of Pop."

Condolences can be sent to Jenny Campbell at 34 Feeches Road, Southend, SS2 6PD.

The funeral will be at 2pm on Thursday, July 5 at Southend Crematorium.

A wake will follow at the White Horse pub, in Southchurch Boulevard.