He was a "legendary" blues violinist whose work was publicly recognised by Bob Dylan and whose face was known throughout Helston, but the colourful life of Dave Sugarbeet was at very real risk of ending in obscurity until his friends stepped in this week.

Dave, who worked at the Blue Anchor as a cellar-man when he was younger and remained a regular presence at the pub, always taking part in the Helstonbury music festival there each year, died from cancer last month just two days after his 70th birthday. Yet with only one surviving relative and no money to his name, anything but a basic burial in a potentially shared, unmarked grave seemed like the only option.

His friends, however, were having none of it and set up an online fundraising page to pay for an "honourable funeral." As a result, a service will now take place on Monday, April 9 at 3pm, in the Trelawny Chapel of Truro's Penmount Crematorium, and is open to all. This will be followed by a celebration of life at the Blue Anchor in Helston.

Dave's brother George Phillips said: "I'm beyond grateful for everybody's efforts."

There will be family flowers only, but anyone wanting to make a contribution on the day can give money to a collection in aid of Helston Railway, which Dave supported, having loved the original branch line as a boy and where he could often be found speaking with the engine drivers.

The fundraising originally stemmed from a post on social media by one of Dave's oldest friends, Nigel Trevena, who was appalled to learn that his friend of 63 years was at risk of a public health funeral.

Having known each other from the age of six, attending primary school and the early years of grammar school together in Helston, they had lost contact somewhat after Nigel moved to north Cornwall, and he told the Helston Packet: "I found out by accident that he died and there was no money, and he would have to have what used to be called a pauper's burial. I just thought, 'This can't be happening. This guy is just so unique and he's such a character; he's my oldest buddy'."

Little did he realise then that a subsequent "rant" on Facebook - which ended with a declaration that "No buddy of mine gets buried in an unmarked grave" - would set the wheels in motion for more than £2,000 to be raised in just over 24 hours through dedicated Facebook and JustGiving pages set up by Christopher Gray and Kenny Tregenza.

They have now upped their initial target to £3,000, having since learned of the actual funeral cost, and money can still be donated at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kenny-tregenza-chris-gray.

Nigel said: "I think the thing that touched everybody was he was one of those solitary kind of characters that every community needs; he was an old-time eccentric that are becoming rarer."

He described Dave as his "kindred spirit" and told the story of how, having once mocked Nigel's fondness for Bob Dylan in the 1960s, his classically-trained friend ironically went on to have his cover of one of Dylan's songs played on the American singer-songwriter's own radio show.

Nigel added: "I'm just thrilled that the money is picking up and he'll have a decent send off. It was looking very grim a few days ago.

"Sixty-three years was a long time to know somebody and I miss him terribly already. It's upset me almost as much as losing my dad and that says something."

Also paying tribute has been Christopher Gray, who Dave worked for at the former Trobadour Studios in Falmouth in 2005, and they became friends.

Describing Dave as "an eccentric legend," Christopher said: "He was a local institution and purveyor of appalling puns. He was real gentleman, not fond of confrontation, and just played sweet violin."

He added that despite having polio as a child, which limited the use of his right hand, Dave, who lived in Church Street, was a talented musician that chose the violin as he could hold a bow, and blues music was his passion.

He came to Helston as a child in 1951, when his father got job teaching at the new St Michael's Primary School, before moving to the London area for a time - giving him the opportunity to regularly attend football matches at White Hart Lane to see his beloved Tottenham Hotspur play. Dave returned to Helston around 20 years ago.