“WE don’t want that to be the last memory of him for people who didn’t know him.”

Those were the words of the family of Richard Cartwright, whose homes in East Parade, Heworth, were searched last month by police officers investigating the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence.

Mr Cartwright died of a heart attack and was found at his home on April 9, three weeks after the university chef went missing. The police investigation has now focussed elsewhere.

His sister, Carol Hodgson, and niece Gemma Hodgson, said they did not want the search of his homes to overshadow the fact he was a kind, gentle man with hundreds of friends throughout York.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Cartwright’s whole family, they said: “He was just a very, very lovely man, he was a very nice person and he was very, very kind so it’s a shame what happened.

“That’s why we are doing this. We don’t want that to be the last memory of him by people who didn’t know him. Those who knew him know it was a load of rubbish.

“His houses were searched as part of the ongoing investigation into her disappearance. He did not know her whatsoever.”

Gemma, a teacher, said Mr Cartwright was like “another dad” to her and her brother and sister, She said: “He was just always there. He was there for every event, he was so involved, we would see him every day.”

Mr Cartwright grew up in Heworth and joined York Carriageworks at the age of 15 after leaving school. He was to remain there until the operation was closed down in 1996 and went on to work at Rowntrees for a stint. His death was a “tremendous shock” and devastating” to his family, but testament to his popularity was his funeral.

Mrs Hodgson said: “The funeral director said to us before we went into Heworth Church that he had never seen it so packed out. There were more than 200 people there, with a lot standing as there was not enough seating.”

Mr Cartwright’s family said they had had a huge amount of support from family and friends, both after his death and during the police searches.

“We have had such a lot of support we can’t physically thank everyone by letter or telephone. He was such a well-known man. We’ve had cards, telephone calls, people have come round and knocked on the door. It has been absolutely overwhelming as everybody thought so highly of him. People thought it was ridiculous.

“The national media were trying to fish for a story that was not there.”

Mr Cartwright would have been 58 next week and his family thought it was appropriate now to pay tribute to him.

They said: “He was quite a rare and unique person. He never had a bad word to say against anybody and never complained about a thing. Richard was extremely proud of his family, particularly his two nieces and one nephew and all their achievements but ultimately the family are very proud of him and miss and love him very much.”