The perfect tribute was paid to Falmouth 'legend' Paul Fehrenback on Sunday when around 35 family members and friends braved the weather and took a dip at Swanpool Beach.

The memorial swim came only days after Paul's funeral, which was held at St Gluvias Church in Penryn on Thursday, and a day before what would have been his 81st birthday.

Paul died after getting into trouble during his second swim of the day on Sunday, October 1. He was rescued from the sea at Swanpool and was resuscitated on the beach before being taken to hospital,but sadly he died the next morning.

Former Falmouth Docks worker and then bouncy castle supervisor at Swanpool, Paul was so well known around town for his swimming, that his family felt the only fitting tribute to him would be for people to gather at the beach and take a swim themselves.

On Sunday afternoon a crowd gathered with around 35 people actually making it into the water while others supported them from the beach. Falmouth's lifeboat crew and members of the coastguard also turned out to pay their respects.

Grand-daughter Jade Herman said the response from the family's plea for people to join them was "amazing." She added: "Thankyou to everyone who came along to either watch or take part in celebrating Paps birthday.

"As a family we are all so touched by all the wonderful comments and memories you have shared with one another. Also a massive thank-you to Elemental for letting us use the facilities and wetsuits and the Falmouth coastguards and the RNLI for attending, it made everything that extra bit special."

Donations made on the day amounted to just over £200 which will be split between the RNLI, air ambulance and Falmouth coastguards.

Paul, who lived at Ferndale Road in Falmouth, leaves Diane, his wife of 56 years; three children, Debbie Bowers, Paula Sloggett and Andrew; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren (with a seventh on the way) and his elder brother, Michael.

Following his funeral service on Thursday, friends and family gathered at Falmouth Rugby Club to reminisce and raise a glass to him.

Jade Louise Herman