A lifelong Helstonian, Flora Day steward and all round "gentleman" has been remembered this week at a funeral following his death earlier this month.

Richard Gilbert passed away at home on March 1, with his family around him, following a long illness. He was aged 69.

His funeral was held on Thursday last week and people lined the streets of Helston, while socially distanced, to pay their respects and see him make his final journey through the town on his way to Treswithian Downs Crematorium at Camborne.

Donations made through Pendles Funeral Services in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care have so far raised more than £1,700.

He is remembered by his wife Heather as a "kind, warm, loving man," who was dedicated to his family, while in cards and letters of condolence many have spoken of "a gentleman, with a great sense of humour."

Richard grew up in Helston, living above his family's sport and saddlery business, known as Gilbert’s Sport Shop, in Meneage Street.

He attended St Michael’s Primary School before going on to Truro School for three years, where he boarded.

However, he was unhappy there and came back to Helston to finish his education at Gwealhellis Secondary School.

His teenage years were filled with sailing, riding on his motorbike with his gang of friends and in the saddlery workshop with Mr Angove.

At 16 Richard went into family business with his father, Donald Gilbert and his uncle, Pearce Gilbert, running the ironmongers business.

n Richard was a lifelong Helstonian

n Richard was a lifelong Helstonian

Lots of his free time was spent with family and friends at St Anthony, where their sailing boat was kept, and he developed a lifelong love of sailing.

In later years he went on to share this with others, running the junior sailing club at Helford for several years and sailing with the Blind at Sea Association.

He also competed in Laberach sailing race to France.

Richard met his wife Heather through the local Young Farmers Club and they were married for 45 years.

The couple went on to have two sons, Peter and David, and nine grandchildren.

Heather said: "He was a great family man. A great memory for all of us was a trip with a friend supporting Peter and David, who cycled from Helston to Nice."

Richard was a founder member of Helston Rotoract Club and was chairman of Helston Chamber of Commerce at one stage.

As a member of Helston Round Table he was crowned 'Helston’s weakest man' but, determined to not to take the title lying down, he trained, lost weight and subsequently became 'Helston’s strongest man'.

He loved working at the family sport shop and also set up a bakery in Horse and Jockey Lane.

In 1986 the family business closed and Richard began training in Falmouth at Miller’s Estate Agents, moving to Truro where he stayed at Miller Commercial until his retirement in 2016.

Having been one of the youngest men to lead the Midday Dance on Flora Day, Richard was further honoured by being invited to become a steward in 1980.

Heather said: "Flora Day was a special and important event for the whole family."

Paying tribute to Richard, John Eddy, chairman of the Flora Day stewards, said: "Richard became a Flora Day steward in 1980 and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

"He was a much-valued member of the association. He loved Flora Day and was proud to be a steward of the Ancient Furry Dance."