THE family of a bouncer who was murdered on Clacton seafront have marked the 21st anniversary of his death.

Gary Chick was attacked by masked thugs on November 17, 1996, as he walked near the Venetian Bridge with his girlfriend.

Mr Chick, 40, was hit over the head with what was believed to be a hammer.

The killing has become Clacton’s longest unsolved murder.

Daughter Roxanne, 32, was just 11 when her dad was killed.

She marked the anniversary on the seafront with her children Ann-Marie, 14, Conrad, 12 and Charli, ten.

“We went down to the seafront and laid flowers and lit a candle for him,” she said.

“It’s hard to believe it has been 21 years - I feel numb at every anniversary. It doesn’t get any easier.

“It’s hard for the kids to know they had a grandad that they will never meet.

“Last year for the 20th anniversary we organised for family and friends to get together and we went to the pub - the girls enjoyed meeting dad’s old friends.

“It is difficult for us every year – but we want to do something to remember him.

“He was a gentle giant and everyone knew him as that.

“He was a happy man and he worked hard for his family – he had two jobs to keep the family going.”

A man was charged with Mr Chick’s murder and a trial was held at Chelmsford Crown Court in 1999, but the defendant was acquitted.

Police confirmed they received new information relating to the murder of Mr Chick earlier this year.

Roxanne added: “We can’t rest until we get justice and dad’s killer is found.

Essex Police will never close the case, so I would appeal for anyone who knew anything about what happened to my dad to come forward.”

Mr Chick had been working at Fibbers nightclub on the night he died.

He was walking home to Kingsman Drive after having a few drinks with other doormen at the old Waverley Hotel when he was attacked by three masked men at 2.40am.