The funeral service is to be held today for Terry Duckett, the “friendly giant” who made a legion of friends as landlord of the Kings Arms in Penryn and more recently, the former Admiral Nelson in Falmouth.

Terry died in hospital at the age of 63 with his wife of 39-years, Sue, at his bedside. He had been suffering ill health for about three years and finally passed away in his sleep. His children, Sarah and Matt, had been called to the hospital in the early hours, but sadly did not make it in time.

The couple originated from Scunthorpe where Terry got his first taste of life as a landlord. “He adored my mum and would do anything to make us all happy,” said Sarah. “Growing up my dad would work three different jobs at a time, he would do anything so we wouldn’t go without. They became publicans 26-years-ago and we moved to Cornwall 21-years-ago.”

Terry and Sue’s first pub in the county was the Kings Arms in Penryn where the family lived for about two years before they moved down to the Admiral Nelson next to Falmouth Docks. There they became popular with dock workers and locals alike.

“A lot of people called him Big Tell, he was 6ft seven – a big friendly giant with a really corny sense of humour,” said Sarah. “He always made people laugh. He would go out of his way for anyone.”

When the pub was sold by the brewery in 2004, Terry and Sue headed back to Scunthorpe to care for her mother. She died in 2007 and the couple then decided to move back to Cornwall and set up home at Roche near St Austell.

“I was expecting their first grandchild, Jacob,” said Sarah. “He adored both his grandchildren, Jacob and Isabella. His health started to deteriorate while I was pregnant with Bella back in 2011. He passed away in hospital in his sleep with his ever loving wife Sue at 1.30am.”

Terry’s funeral service will be held in the Trelawny Chapel at Penmount Crematorium in Truro at 4pm on Friday, August 15. He requested that there be no flowers, but instead for people to make a donation to Macmillan Nurses. There will be a collection box for those who wish to donate. Afterwards, mourners are invited to join the family at the Kings Arms in Penryn.