Larger than life and with a heart to match, is how respected poet, radio presenter and Urdu specialist Saffee Siddique was described after his passing on Thursday night.
Tributes poured in after Siddique, in his late 70s, succumbed to a long illness. He was laid to rest on Friday.
Siddique, who presented Guldasta Deenyath, a weekly show on Lotus FM, was married to veteran radio jock Zakia Ahmed. They have two children.
Former colleague and friend Jagruthi Jantilal Mathura said: "When I was 18-years-old, I met Saffee at an interview for a job at Radio Truro, and I will never forget the presence he had, even then.
"He respected all creeds and cultures. His charisma was truly something to behold."
Video producer Satish Dhupelia also paid tribute.
"We bid farewell to a cultural stalwart, the man with the golden voice, humble, calm and peaceful. He was the doyen of radio and poetry, a man who could bring words to life when he spoke them.
"Siddique was a founding member of the Buzmee Adab Group, an organisation to promote Urdu.
"He was a song writer of note but, more importantly, a fantastic human being with a lovely smile. He was also a friend to my late dad, who loved poetry too," said Duphelia.
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