Darren Rix: Tributes paid to former Sheffield pub chef and council worker who made models for the stars

Tributes have been paid to Darren Rix, whose remarkable life was sadly cut short on August 18 this year, aged 61.

He was born in Hampshire but moved to Sheffield as a boy and his parents Rita and Stanley ran the Robin Hood pub in Millhouses, where he worked as head chef for a time.

Darren, who lived in the lodge at Abbey Lane Cemetery in Beauchief, went on to have numerous jobs, from T-shirt printing to acting, working alongside the likes of former page 3 girl Samantha Fox and Minder star George Cole.

He later became an environmental officer for Sheffield Council and appeared on the BBC programme A Life of Grime in the early noughties.

His big passion was DC comics and after his council career was cut short due to ill health he focused on crafting figures based on the characters. Such was his talent, he was commissioned to make them for celebrities including TV chef Delia Smith and Lord of the Rings star Andy Sirkis.

People: Heartbroken mum of Sheffield murder victim wants legacy for beloved son

Tragedy struck in 2020 when the keen biker, who stood 6ft 8ins tall and was jokingly nicknamed ‘Tiny’, developed sepsis and had to have both legs amputated.

He was told at the time that he had days to live but he defied the medics and made the most of his second chance at life, continuing to craft the models he loved to make and appealing for help to fund a modified disability trike which would give him the freedom to attend the conventions he so enjoyed.

Darren’s daughter Charlotte Rix described him as an ‘amazing’ dad and said he was a hugely popular character who ‘got on with everyone he met’.

He is survived by his wife Lynn, daughter Charlotte and granddaughter Evie, aged five.

His funeral will take place at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium on Friday, September 9, at 11am, followed by a wake at the Robin Hood pub in Millhouses from around 12pm. Anyone who knew him is welcome to attend.

His family have asked for any donations in lieu of flowers to be made to St Luke’s Hospital, where he spent his last days.