Tributes paid to Big Jon (From Bucks Free Press)

Tributes paid to Marlow's Big Jon

7:30am Monday 20th February 2012 in Marlow By Rebecca Cain

TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved Marlow man who colleagues said was more like an older brother than a manager.

Jon Hudson, from Marlow, died aged 36 on January 28 after a short battle with cancer.

The Noodle Nation restaurant where he worked in Maidenhead was closed for a day last Tuesday for his funeral in St Albans, where more than 300 attended.

Jon had been a business development manager for last four years the family-run company and spent a lot of his time at the Maidenhead branch.

Assistant manager in Maidenhead, Yasar Sajawal, said: "He was a great person to work with. He was always willing to go that extra mile for every one. It is just like losing an older brother.

"He was an amazing guy. Words can't describe how amazing this guy was.

"It is hard to explain. Every one is just trying to come to terms with it. I have never met a more genuine guy than Jon Hudson.

"It has definitely been an honour to have known this guy and to have him as a manager."

Known as 'Big Jon' he grew up in High Wycombe before moving to St Albans aged 15, where his dad is a verger at the Cathedral and Abbey Church.

He moved back to the area for his further education and 18 months ago he got married to his wife, Carmen.

Another colleague, Carin Lin, who is operations director, said he was diagnosed with cancer in the neck and head last October but was told the outlook was good.

She said: "They did everything they could. Unfortunately it didn't work.

"Jon was a really brave guy- both for him and his wife. They tackled it head on with all the fight and muster they had."

His colleagues helped the couple raise more than £8,000 for Maggie's Cancer Centre in Oxford by running in the Marlow Santa Fun Run in December.

She said he was a huge man of 6ft 7ins and added: "He was a big man in more ways than one- despite his hard exterior, he had a huge heart. He had an immense passion for the business and team and was at his happiest when developing staff to achieve more- both in work and out."

Carin added: "He was like a big brother to some of the staff."

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