The family of a Hitchin postmaster who tragically died after being hit by a lorry while jogging near Baldock have paid tribute to their “quiet and gentle” husband and father.

Peter Day, 60, was out running near Clothall on Wednesday afternoon when he was involved in a collision with an HGV on the A507 Clothall Road, at the junction with Ashanger Lane and Warren Lane. Despite paramedics’ best efforts, he died at the scene.

Peter, who lived in Baldock, had been manager of the Highbury Road Post Office in Hitchin for about five years.

He leaves his wife Cilla, their 27-year-old daughter Laura, their two dogs Roxy and Cinders and their two cats Boris and Marie.

Cilla, who works at Baldock’s Tesco Extra store, said: “We were a very close family. Peter loved to be at home with us, he was very family-orientated and very traditional.

“He was a quiet and gentle person.”

Laura, who works at Tesco’s head office in Welwyn Garden City, said: “We really enjoyed our family holidays together. Last year we went to Mexico to celebrate Dad’s 60th, which was great fun, and in March this year, we went to Florida.

“We were booked to go to Turkey in September this year, which he was really looking forward to.”

Peter was a keen runner, a hobby Cilla said he started as a way to de-stress when he was commuting to work in London. He would use the footpaths in the countryside around Baldock about four or five times a week.

Peter was born in the south London neighbourhood of Mitcham on September 13, 1957, to parents Clifford and Elizabeth. He was an only child but had cousins in Germany, as his mother was German and had met Peter’s father while he was there with the British Army during the Second World War.

On leaving school, Peter became a postal clerk and worked his way up to become a branch manager, looking after sites in central London.

About 35 years ago, through mutual friends, he first met Cilla, who was working at the head office of clothing retailer Chelsea Girl – now River Island.

They hit it off straight away and bonded over their love of music, particularly Rod Stewart and Leonard Cohen. They enjoyed regularly going to gigs together.

Cilla had moved up to Baldock from west London in 1983. Peter made the same move when they married in March 1990, and a year later they welcomed their daughter Laura.

Peter continued as a Post Office branch manager in London until about five years ago, when he retired and took up his role at Hitchin’s Highbury Road branch.

Like his father, he was a big West Ham United football fan from childhood – and enjoyed keeping track of the Hammers’ progress by watching the matches on TV.

Peter’s funeral will be at 3.30pm on Tuesday, July 3, at Harwood Park Crematorium near Stevenage. His family have said all are welcome to come to a wake afterwards at the George IV pub in Baldock’s London Road.

Family flowers only please. Donations can be made to the Bobby Moore Cancer Trust via EH Crouch Funeral Services in Baldock.