Tributes paid to 'gentle giant' who worked at Noodle Nation

Glowing tributes have been paid to a 'gentle giant' who worked at Noodle Nation in Maidenhead.

The restaurant in King Street was closed on Tuesday last week for the funeral of Jonathan Hudson who died on January 28 after a short battle with cancer.

The 36-year-old stood out from the crowd at more than 6' 5" and was well known in town and Marlow where he lived with wife Carmen.

Known as Big Jon to his friends he had worked at Noodle Nation as business development manager since 2007.

More than 300 people attended his funeral in St Albans, where his father Peter Hudson is verger of the Abbey.

Colleague Carin Lin said he was a 'father figure' to many people in the business, mentoring them to success.

She added: "He was a big man in more ways than one. He had a huge heart.

"Jon was a fantastic person, who will be remembered for his passion for the business, his honesty, his immense personality and his unique sense of humour.

Originally from High Wycombe he moved to St Albans at 15 but came back to the area to go to college.

He and Carmen were married 18 months ago and moved to Marlow.

Jon was diagnosed with cancer of the neck and head shortly before Christmas but had been told he was likely to make a full recovery.

The dedicated Arsenal fan threw himself into raising funds for Maggie’s Cancer Centre at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford where he was being treated. His colleagues helped raise more than £8,000 by taking part in the Marlow Santa Fun Run in December.

But tragically his aggressive cancer did not respond to treatment and spread quickly and Jon passed away at the Oxford hospital with his family by his side.

The couple's fundraising page www.justgiving.com/BigJonsBigFight is still collecting cash for the charity.