BBC radio presenter Dave Llewellyn dies aged 57
Teesside LiveBBC Radio Tees presenter Dave Llewellyn has died aged 57 after a short illness.
He was best known as the the voice of traffic and travel in the region - a role he held for more than 20 years - and started out as the "eye in the sky" in a small plane above Teesside.
Originally from Fishburn in County Durham, he later moved to Yarm with his wife Ange and their daughter Amy. He had a passion for music, both as a producer and performer.
Amy said her father was "incredibly modest and generous" and a man who always found time for "friends and strangers alike".
"Outside of his work he loved his family and his music. His true talent shone through while he was playing his keyboards, synthesisers and bass," she said.
"He was the most loving father and husband, always going out of his way to make us happy.
"He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him, especially our beloved dog Cupid who always saw a taste of his generosity, usually in the form of a shared sausage sandwich."
Llewellyn most recently worked as a producer on BBC Radio Tees and was well known on the local music scene.
As travel presenter, he would do 12 traffic bulletins an hour on radio stations across the north from the BBC's studio in Middlesbrough.
He also co-presented a gardening show on Sunday mornings with Brigid Press.
SuppliedLlewellyn spent the last six years as a producer at BBC Radio Tees – most recently working on Gary Philipson's daytime programme.
Breakfast show presenter Amy Oakden paid an emotional tribute to her colleague during Friday's show and said the team would "never ever forget his iconic voice".
"I always remember Dave because he was just so kind and lovely," she said.
"He was a legend."
Producer Sarah Robinson also gave her tribute through tears during the show.
"What do I say about Dave? Worst taste in shirts I have ever seen, he wore terrible shirts, made bad coffee, the worst coffee I had ever tasted in my whole life, but Dave was relentlessly cheerful and positive and never came into the office without having a smile on his face."
Listeners also flooded the programme with tributes to Llewellyn.
They said they were "shocked and saddened" at the news and remembered him as "kind and friendly".
One wrote: "I'll be thinking about him. Every time you rang in he was great craic - what a lovely guy."
Bloodrun EVS, a volunteer group that transfers blood between hospitals, said Llewellyn had been a "comforting voice to many".
They said: "Thank you for your service. RIP Dave, our condolences and thoughts are with Dave's family and colleagues at this difficult time."
