A PENSIONER who died after being knocked down on his way to the mosque will be remembered as a “loving and forgiving man” who enjoyed watching tennis.

Mohammed Yousaf, 79, of Boundary Road in Walthamstow, died after an accident in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, on Thursday, February 16.

The retired butcher was on his way to prayers at Lea Bridge Road Mosque when a lorry hit him as he crossed the road. Hundreds turned out to his funeral at the mosque on Friday, March 3, to pay their respects.

Mr Yousef’s eldest son Yasin, 54, said his father taught him and his brothers the importance of family, having grown up without a father himself.

He said: “His father died when he was 10 and his mother and his older brother brought him up. My father was a really loving guy and he loved getting the family together to watch football. He was always there for us and he was chuffed about having four grandkids.

“I think now I will feel lost without him.

“I will remember him as a very forgiving person. Whatever we got up to as children he always forgave and got on with it. That was one of his strong points.

“He also had respect for others. He used to go to the mosque every day but he wasn’t the type to shove his beliefs down other people’s throats.”

The driver of the HGV which hit Mr Yousaf was arrested on suspicion of causing death my dangerous driving and has been bailed until May.

Mr Yousaf leaves behind his wife Parven, 78, five sons, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

After moving to the UK from Pakistan 40 years ago he worked for Ford in before opening a butcher’s shop in Walthamstow which he ran until he retired.

Yasin said the family are rallying around their mother to comfort her following their father’s sudden death.

He said: “The funeral was a stressful day for our mother and she found it difficult to cope but she pulled through and we tried to comfort her. It is going to take time for her to get over it. We are going to have to sit down as a family and support her. That is our duty.

“My father loved to watch tennis on TV and my brother took him to Wimbledon. None of us could understand it because you never really think an Asian man would like tennis but he knew all the tennis players and his favourite was Roger Federer.

“Charity is also something he always tried to involve himself in.”

Mr Yousef’s family have set up a Just Giving page to raise money for the Al-Khair Foundation Charity in his memory.

To donate to the campaign click here.