Hawzah News Agency - (Portsmouth - UK) - Family, friends and work colleagues have paid their respects to a hard-working Gosport businessman who brought companies closer to the Muslim community.

Noor Awan died age 68 after a two-week battle with kidney cancer.

Mr Awan, from Gosport, was the director of structural engineering at McAndrew Martin, a network of property professionals based in Hampshire, but also one of the elders at the Portsmouth’s Jami Mosque in Victoria Road North.

After a period of mourning, a celebration was held at Portsmouth Guildhall for family and friends.

Speaking on behalf of his family, Mr Awan’s niece Tabassum Awan, described him as a ‘beautiful, pure spirit’.

‘You did not sit on the sidelines, you stood up,’ she said.

The managing director of McAndrew Martin, Bill McAndrew, knew Mr Awan for 35 years.

He said the elder was able to bring people at the company closer to the city’s Muslim community.