The life and work of a Helston film engineer who worked on many of the biggest films of the 20th century, and even made Superman fly, has been remembered in tributes following his death.

Allan Healey, was  “committed to Helston” but what many people may not be aware of, is his fascinating background in film, working on Star Wars, Toy Story and 2001: Space Odyssey to name just a few.

Mr Healey was born in London and trained in engineering before completing his National Service in the RAF.

He was invalided out of the air crew and it was then that someone suggested films.

He worked for MGM as deputy chief engineer at its Borehamwood studios, until the company closed its UK operations in the late 1960s.

Mr Healey then became a freelance. His work over the years saw him collaborating with David Lean in Doctor Zhivago, alongside the cameraman who won three Oscars.

He classed David Niven and Peter Ustinov amongst his favourite actors and recalled having to make Christopher Reeve “fly”.

When he joined the team making Star Wars, director George Lucas was relatively unknown and the budget for props was miniscule.

In one radio interview, Mr Healey recalled: “We had to scrounge all sorts of bits and pieces to make the film.”

Mr Healey also laughed about how the cast and crew were all offered a cut of the film’s profits but the only one who accepted was actor Alec Guinness, who “reluctantly” took one per cent – and ended up receiving millions of pounds.

Some time later, Mr Healey worked with the animation team on Toy Story whose work won them three Oscars.

When asked to transfer images from a computer onto film he replied “You must be bloody mad” – but the resulting pioneering technology changed the face of cinema.

The  funeral for Mr Healey, a former town marshal and secretary of Helston Royal British Legion, was held at Treswithian Downs Crematorium, Camborne.

Paying tribute to Mr Healey, Helston’s mayor Mike Thomas said he was “very sad” to hear the news of his death, which he announced to members of the town council when they met last week.

Speaking to the Packet afterwards, Mr Thomas said: “I was very, very sad to hear the news. I know he did so much for the town.”

Mr Healey, 78, set up Marshals for Cornwall, providing street marshals for events in Helston and the surrounding area, and it was through this that Mr Thomas had spoken to him, when the council arranged the annual harvest fair events.

“I found him to be very nice, gentle and interesting. I know he was committed to Helston,” added Mr Thomas.

Mr Healey was also heavily involved in Helston’s Royal British Legion Club, and was its secretary for many years.

As chairman of Helston and District Community Association, he was, for many years, based at the former Helston Community Centre in Penrose Road.

Mr Healey had four children: Desiree Chapman, Maurice Healey, Maggie Tibble and Amanda Healey-Browne.