He was a familiar face on Helston's shopping street for more than half a century but now the town must say goodbye to "the perfect Cornish gentleman."

Peter Maxwell Barnett, known as Max, died peacefully at home on September 12, aged 88, and his funeral will take place this Friday at Wendron Parish Church, at 2pm.

He will then be interred at Helston Cemetery in a private ceremony for family, where he will be reunited with his beloved wife Mary who died in 2017.

All are invited to the Wheal Dream afterwards, for refreshments and a reflection on Max's life.

Max is probably best known as the owner of Barnett's Outfitters in Wendron Street, which he ran with his wife Mary until they retired in 2000.

After retirement, Max continued to work as a driver for Ocean BMW in Falmouth, driving being something he enjoyed all his life. As Mary's health deteriorated, he gave this job up and became a full time carer. Max and Mary celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in July 2016.

Max was born a twin in Helston Cottage Hospital and. with his sister Stephanie and elder brother Ross lived in the family home in Cross Street before moving to Church Hill in 1932.

Max's career was always destined to be in the family shop, as the fifth generation of gentlemen's outfitters from a business that started in St Day in 1830, moved to Trelowarren Street in Camborne in around 1890 and then to Helston in 1920.

He worked first with his mother and father before taking on sole control, eventually totalling 53 years there, having only taken a small break for National Service where he served in the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry.

On returning to the business after service, he soon caught the eye of 'the girl next door', Mary, who worked in Randle Thomas Solicitors next door.

Four years later they were married, in 1956, and lived with Max's parents in Church Hill. Son John was born in 1960 and Martin was born in 1966.

Max's father died in 1963 but his mother continued to work in the shop until unable to do so any longer, passing away in 1982.

His twin sister Stephanie, a former telephone exchange operator in Helston, died in 1977.

Son Martin described his father as "the perfect Cornish gentleman," adding: "Max was proud to be Cornish and when on the business rounds, would visit many local businesses and farms, bringing various goods from the shop and news from the town, accompanied sometimes by his sons and sometimes latterly by his mother."

Along with Mary, Max began ringing bells at Wendron Church in the 1970s and remained active until Mary's health declined, with both holding roles as Deanery Steward and Western District Secretary respectively.

After retirement he also was a founder member of The Helston Breakfast Club, where gentlemen of a similar age could enjoy a social breakfast together and reflect on current life. Latterly he was a regular attendee at the Helston History Club.

He is survived by sons John and Martin, with their partners Gillian and Caroline, along with his brother Ross, now 90 and living near his two daughters in Ithaca, New York.