Truro folk turned out in droves to give a much-loved friend a fine send-off this afternoon. Keith Hill’s hearse was walked down Boscawen Street by town crier Lionel Knight, with police officers, shop staff and members of the public lining both sides of the road. The vehicle stopped for a minute’s silence, before continuing its route to rapturous applause.

Bystander Luci Isaacson described Keith as “the Mayor of Boscawen Street”, adding: “He will always be with us. He will make us grin when we pass the Cricket Club. We will try to smile and light up a room like he did, and for this true Truronian, we will hold his beautiful kids Mike, Kelly and Ami closer in our hearts.”

Keith was well known for standing and chatting outside the Co-op. Team leader Robert Harrison and many of his colleagues were permitted to leave the checkouts and pay their respects.

“We just wanted to show what a nice guy he was,” he said. “He was a regular, and a true character – a good, honest bloke.”

PCSO Richard Hill was one of many uniformed police officers in attendance. “Keith was a well-respected local boy and a likeable chap,” he said. “Everyone knew and loved him.”

Born in 1946, Keith passed away on Sunday, November 26. His funeral service took place at the Trelawny Chapel, Penmount Crematorium. Donations in his memory are invited, to the British Heart Foundation and Alzheimer's Society.