Dad Luke Veness, 34, who was ranked second for 1,500 metre running in England during his late teenage years and represented his country at a number of international athletics events, took his own life last Friday.

He became well-known locally after winning the English Schools Cross Country Championships title as a 16-year-old, closely followed by another English Schools victory in the 3,000 metres.

Among his sporting triumphs was being chosen to run both the 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres for his country on the international stage.

Luke, who was a member of Hastings Athletics Club for many years, won a sporting scholarship to university in Atlanta, USA, where he came third in inter-collegiate championships.

While studying sports management at Southampton University he ran with Team Solent.

In recent years, the former Hollington Infants and William Parker School pupil played football with Pebsham Sibex and was a keen fisherman.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Luke became a train driver a year ago after a spell working at EF Language School.

His parents Glenn and Kate Veness, of The Slides, Hollington, have been overwhelmed by the messages of condolence they received this week.

"He was loved by everyone," said his dad, a bricklayer.

"He was such a lovely character and was a devoted, fantastic father. He had been going through a traumatic time but nobody realised quite how down he felt."

Luke's best friend Carl Essery, 34, a water engineer, from St Leonards, described Luke's death as "an absolute tragedy".

"I think the whole town is in shock," he said. "Luke was like a brother to me and was best man at my wedding.

"He was very fun-loving, sensitive and was often the life and soul of the party.

Another friend Joe Fraser, 33, from Hastings, who trained and raced with Luke from the age of 11, said: "Luke was one of the most talented athletes this town has ever seen and alongside that he was also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.

"In all the years I knew Luke there was never a bad word spoken between us and I'm sure I'm not the only person to think that.

"Luke inspired me in my athletics and helped inspire many others to achieve personal successes. This is what made him the lovable guy that everyone remembers.

"Although his loss has left an empty place in my heart I am so grateful to have known him. Luke was the greatest athlete I ever had the pleasure to share the same track with and I know that his memory will live on in all of us. "

Sales director Ollie Norman, 35, of Coulsdon, Surrey, became firm friends with Luke after competing against him as a teenager.

"He was a fantastic athlete and enthusiastic for life," he said. "I feel honoured to have knoen Luke. He was very selfless invdividual who brought a lot of joy to people's lives."

Reg Wild, president of Hastings Athletics, who helped train Luke, said: "He was very special and I felt privileged to be part of his career.

Luke, who lived in Eastbourne for the last two years, has a six-year-old daughter Lili and two sisters Tamara and Natasha.

- Luke's funeral will be held at All Saints Church, from 9.15am on Wednesday.



Tributes to Luke may be left by clicking on the following link
http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/hastingstributes/Tributes-to-Luke-Veness.4574627.jp