A NORTH Glasgow community is in mourning following the death of a much-loved shopkeeper.

Father-of-three Waqar Hussain Choudary died at 65 on Friday. It is understood that he lost his life to coronavirus.

The popular shopkeeper ran a convenience store on Skerray Street in Milton and was affectionately known as Wacca.

Glasgow Times:

Tributes have poured in from across the community with heartbroken locals leaving flowers outside the shop he ran for almost four decades.

Former city councillor Shab Jaffri said: "Wacca, as he was known in the scheme, was really a decent family man.

"He was quiet and hard-working. He looked after his family and his business.

"He was a member of the Shia Muslim community who have a small centre in the West End.

"My father and his late father were the original founding members of that Islamic Centre."

He added: "I didn't appreciate how much he was loved until I saw how the community reacted to his death."

Community activist Alex O'Kane, who runs the popular Facebook page No1Seems2Care, recalled how the grandfather-of-two served generations of school kids - and would even put an extra sweet into their bag.

He said: "Some local youths claim that Navid from Still Game was based on Wacca as he was a laugh and he engaged well with the youth.

"Wacca was one of our own. He worked here and spent a significant part of his life in our community, he will be missed by many."

He is survived by his wife Najma. The family said they are overwhelmed by the support they received from the community in Milton. They thanked everyone for their well-wishes.

Members of the Milton community have suggested that a vigil take place in memory of Wacca once lockdown rules are no longer in place.

Margo Sweeney said: "So sad. My kids were so upset when I told them of Wacca's passing as they have known him his whole life.

"Milton won't be the same without him.

John Kelly said: "An absolute gentleman of a man. I knew him since I was a boy. I got my paper from him for my round in Milton many moons ago. He will be sadly missed in the back end of Milton by many. God bless him and his family.

Josh Kelly added: "It's not much but if you asked for five sour dummies, he would give you six. Take from that what you will but for me, it speaks volumes of a man. Great guy who always had time to gab away."

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