The life of a former Royal Navy paramedic, who succumbed to cancer on Friday after a five-year battle with the illness, will be celebrated in “comic hero” style on Thursday.
Friends, family and former colleagues of Dundee University student Norman (George) Riding, who fought to save hundreds of lives during his military career, will wear comic hero T-shirts when they gather at St Luke’s and Queen Street Parish Church in Broughty Ferry.
And in keeping with Mr Riding’s lifelong love of superheroes, especially Batman and Superman, his entire coffin has been rigged out as the Batmobile.
Mr Riding’s wife Gail said: “He would approve. He used humour quite a lot through his illness to keep his spirits up. If you said the name Norman Riding to anyone it would mean comic books, movies, superheroes.”
Mr Riding, who was studying to be a chemistry teacher, passed away aged just 37 at the family home in Forthill after the cancer spread to his liver. He leaves behind Gail, also 37, and children Catie, 11, and Callum, 10.
Gail said last night: “He was an all-round top bloke, very honest, very generous and very straight. He was just a few months away from graduating, I’d like it if the university was able to give him some sort of degree.
“He remained upbeat and cheerful till about July time, but the last couple of months he wasn’t very good, he was in a lot of pain and his quality of life wasn’t great.
“I’m devastated for the man I lost before his illness, that’s the man I grieve for, it’s just so sad.”
Mr Riding had to leave his “dream job” in the navy in 2008 after doctors discovered a gastrointestinal stromal tumour.
Originally from Tyneside, he had been stationed in Iraq during the Gulf War and met Gail while both were serving in the navy.
The service is at noon on Thursday, thereafter in the Crematorium at 1.15pm.