The Lincolnshire Echo published the following tribute to Dad on Thursday 8 August 2013; Courageous cafe owner hailed as a 'remarkable man' A popular cafe owner who lost hie six-year fight against prostate cancer has been called "remarkable". Christopher Lynch passed away in March following a "Herculean battle" against the disease. The 57-year-old went through nine rounds of treatment as he fought the cancer over six years. But the former RAF serviceman carried on working at his business, the Waterfront Cafe, despite the illness. Paying tribute to the 57-year-old, son-in-law, Lee Mercer said he was a popular figure in the community. He said "At the crematorium we couldn't get anyone else in for the service - there were people standing outside. Still now, people who he has served come into the cafe and tell us what a remarkable man he was and how he changed their lives for the better. His illness came on quite suddenly. He went for a general check-up when they found it but it was very small, almost microscopic. Eventually chemotherapy didn't work. He was actually offered a new prostate cancer drug, not available on the NHS.It was a blessing in itself. It gave him a few more weeks and he could be looked after at home." Mr Lynch was born in Rotherham in 1956. He was part of a big family with brothers Kevin, Dermot and David and two sisters Maureen and Catherine. After leaving Pope Pius Secondary School in Rotherham he faced two choices - working in the coalmines or joining the RAF. Chris chose to join the RAF and met Jacqueline during his work, who later became his wife. The pair met in a helicopter over Berlin, when Chris was Jacquie's boss at the time. They married on May 14 1983, at St. Helen's United Reformed Church, and had four daughters called Leanne, Rachel, Helen and Holly. He went on to have a long career with the RAF, including postings at Scampton, Digby and a posting in Berlin. During his career, he became the youngest person to be awarded the rank of Warrant Officer. He also serveda four-month tour of the Falkland Islands in 1996. But in August 1998, he decided to to leave the RAF, a a further posting to RAF Leeming meant he would have to be away from his family. He chose to settle in Lincoln after growing to love the city, with two younger daughters born during RAF postings there. He started the Waterfront Cafe, on Waterside South, which became a successful city centre business. Chris used the cafe to train unemployed school leavers, giving them qualifications. Mr Lynch and his family were well known to the community and often served meals to Lincoln's homeless. Despite running a busy cafe, he taught health and safety at Lincoln College and Lincolnshire Police headquarters. Away from his work, he loved football and was a devoted Rotherham supporter. He arranged a charity football match to raise money for prostate cancer. He also supported local charity Amigos, providing support to the homeless in Lincoln. Chris ran the Lincoln 10k each year, until his health deteriorated and he couldn't compete any longer. But when he couldn't run, Chris walked with buckets to fundraise for Prostate Cancer UK. His family ran this year's Lincoln 10k in his name, despite Chris passing away just weeks before. Christopher and Jacquie Lynch had four grandchildren - Jade, Thomas, Ethan and Isabella-Rae - and would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on May 14 this year.