Members of Hamilton Parish Workman’s Club yesterday paid tribute to their friend George Lynch, who was shot dead this week in a neighbouring street.

The Bermuda flag at the social club has been lowered to half-mast and a shot glass filled with Mr. Lynch’s favourite tipple Pernod, now sits behind the bar in his honour.

It sits next to another shot glass, filled with Smirnoff vodka, to mark the victim of another shooting earlier this year, 34-year-old Perry Puckerin.

Mr. Puckerin, also a father-of-two, became the first murder victim of 2010 when he was shot dead inside the club on the evening of January 3.

His cousin, bartender Judy Outerbridge, said yesterday: “It gives me cold chills that this has happened again. I was stunned, hurt and really mad to hear of George’s death. I can’t express myself no more.”

Ms Outerbridge however, paid tribute to her friend, saying: “George was very popular, he was a happy-go-lucky person and loved making people laugh.

”He had a lot of friends here and was very well-liked.”

She said the father-of-two had arrived in Bermuda a year-and-a-half ago from Toronto, Canada, and quickly made many friends. His favourite drink was Cockspur and coke but he also enjoyed shots of Pernod.

”We used to call him ‘Canadian-Jamaican’,” said Ms Outerbridge. “His personality was such that everybody took to him. And he was always ready to help out, whether it was mowing the grass or cutting down trees.

”Yesterday (the day after Mr. Lynch’s death) everybody was very sombre,” she said. “George was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am really going to miss him.”

Club member Sasha Taalibdin said her daughter attends the same nursery school as Mr. Lynch’s four-year-old daughter, Emoy.

”George always had a smile on his face,” she said. “He loved his kids and talked about them all the time. He was a good man and a good father.

”It’s just really sad. He was a very easy-going person and didn’t deserve what happened to him.”

Friend Marcus Douglas said: “We used to tease him and say he was the only Jamaican we knew who didn’t know how to play dominoes or cards.<>*t(0,0,” “)<>”And he loved fishing. He couldn’t fish or swim, but was always talking about fishing.”

Shannon James added: “He was a fun guy to be around, he made me laugh. I never saw him mad, he was always in a good mood.”

Mr. Lynch was killed by a single bullet to the chest at around 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday, as he stood outside a friend’s house in nearby Midland Heights Crescent.

Police say two men with dark visors rode past on a motorcycle and took aim at Mr. Lynch and two other men. He was rushed to hospital in a private car but died within the hour.

Mr. Lynch, 40, leaves a wife, Nekesha Holdipp, and two young daughters under-five. Ms Holdipp is currently expecting the couple’s third child.

Mr. Lynch worked as a housekeeper at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Rosa Simons, Bermuda Hospitals Board Environmental Services Manager, said yesterday: “It has been a shock to all of us in the Environmental Services department to learn of George’s death.

”He had been with us for just under a year, but in that seemingly short time had become a much-loved member of our team.

”He was an excellent team player and consistently went above and beyond the call of duty. We received letters about George from patients and managers, always praising his professionalism, polite manner and kindness.

”He will be greatly missed by us all and our prayers are with his family at this very sad time.”

A BHB spokeswoman added: “Staff are understandably upset at the loss of their much-loved colleague. BHB offers support to its staff through its Employee Assistance Programme, and this is being provided.”