Hundreds gathered to toast a bouncer who was stabbed to death outside his home on what would have been his 28th birthday.

Ricky Hayden, 27, was stabbed outside his home in Gibbfield Close, Chadwell Heath, on September 13 last year.

On Sunday, May 14, about 300 people remembered Ricky at The Sun pub in London Road, Romford, in what mum Sue Hedges said was a “lovely” way to remember a man who’d do “anything for anyone”.

“Everywhere we go and everything we do somebody knows Ricky,” the 50-year-old said. “Even now we still get messages saying ‘you don’t know me but Ricky helped me’.

“We always thought he was a bit of a loner but it’s only now we realise how many friends he had.”

London-based house and garage station Vision Radio UK joined the birthday tribute by dedicating an entire hour of music from 3pm to 4pm to Ricky, who worked on the door of Kosho Bar in South Street, Romford.

Well-wishers at the pub wore Ricky’s favourite colour – orange – and Sue said she’s glad the memory of her son is strong in the community.

“It’s not going to go away,” she said. “And we’re really pleased about that.”

She said she’d remember Ricky not just for his kind acts, but for his sense of humour and his work ethic.

“He was kind, caring and if anybody ever needed his help he was there,” she said. “He came across as very quiet and he was a workaholic.

“He was funny but dry – he’d never crack a smile, he would just be cheeky with it.”

Three males – including two teenagers – are set to appear at the Old Bailey in connection with the death on Monday, June 19.

Tommy Roome, 19, of Rams Grove, Chadwell Heath and Tarrell Hinds, 20, of Rodney Road, Southwark, have both been charged with murder and attempted murder after Ricky’s dad Paul Hayden, 55, was also injured in the attack.

Kevin Malamba, 19, of Manford Cross in Hainault will also appear and is charged with perverting the course of justice.

Mr Roome and Mr Malamba deny the charges against them and Mr Hinds is yet to plea.