TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved chef from Purley, after a body was found in Coulsdon on Sunday afternoon.

Kevin Boyle, who was 26, had been missing since October last year, and his friends, family and members of Purley Baptist Church had been searching for him ever since.

Yesterday (Thursday) the body was formally identified as Kevin's.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned.

Naomi Anderson, 30, described her younger brother as a kind, generous and thoughtful man, who cared deeply for all those around him.

"His great loves were cooking, his family and friends and the church," she said.

"He was an amazing chef, and cooking these beautiful meals for people he cared about was his way of showing people he loved them."

Kevin was an intelligent man of convictions, Naomi said, who enjoyed debating with friends.

"He had this huge heart and he couldn't stand to see injustices or people being treated unfairly or wrongly," she added.

Naomi said she, her parents Patti and Tom, her brothers Joe and Robin and sisters Gillian and Sally were 'forever grateful' to their friends, extended family and members of the church for the support shown to the Boyle family since Kevin's disappearance.

She also thanked Kevin's friend Peter Fosdike, who set up a website dedicated to finding Kevin and instigated an awareness campaign on Twitter which attracted tens of thousands of messages and was supported by dozens of celebrities.

"We have a long, hard road ahead of us but we are incredibly grateful for all the support," she said.

Peter, 28, also a member of Purley Baptist Church, spoke from Geneva in Switzerland, where he had gone to look for Kevin.

He said he had been shocked to hear of Kevin's death, and described his friend as witty, intelligent and deeply sensitive.

"Kevin was one of those rare people who was universally loved," he said.

"He was genuine, he was humble and he was immensely talented, but he never seemed to know just how talented or how loved he was."

Peter also paid tribute to the work Kevin did with young people, at 'The Cage' football evenings at Purley Baptist Church on Tuesdays as well as the church's after-school club 'Ice Cube'.

"He served everyone, all of the time," Peter said.

In a statement, Peter added: "Despite having little he would give everything he had and more, to make us sensational food and bring life to a gathering.

"I will remember him for his passionate conversations, his booming and delightful laugh, his ability to win any debate, and his love for others. I am sure others will remember him for his charm, his caring heart and most of all his utter selflessness and dedication to all those around him.

"He was witty, intelligent and quick to laugh, but also deeply sensitive, compassionate and rebuking of the injustices of this world."

Kevin, a keen Crystal Palace fan who had grown up in Purley, had wanted to be a chef since he was young.

He studied at Coulsdon High, now Oasis Academy Coulsdon, Croydon College and Lancaster University, where he was active in the rowing team.

In the spring of 2002 he made it to the final 30 of Jamie Oliver's first-ever Fifteen venture, a social enterprise aimed at teaching young people to run a restaurant.

Kevin worked at central London restaurants Le Caprice, St John and Smiths of Smithfield, and had prepared food for customers including Prince Charles and Tony Blair.

He was working at Vinoteca in Farringdon when he disappeared.

In May last year, Kevin started a campaign to find a financial backer for a restaurant he was hoping to open in Purley.

He told the Croydon Advertiser at the time that his aim was to serve exceptional and creative food, but at prices everyone could afford and in a place where everyone felt welcome.

Jamie Oliver also paid tribute to his former protege, saying he represented 'everything that was good' about his Fifteen ventures.

Jamie said Kevin was sweet, kind and thoughtful, and would be sadly missed.

A body was found in Chaldon Way in Coulsdon at about 12.50pm on Sunday.

The police said in a statement on Monday it was thought to be Kevin's, and this was confirmed by the Croydon coroner yesterday (Thursday).

The death is being treated as unexplained.