George died on May 31, when he was involved in an incident with his beloved Yamaha on the A27.

Born in Portsmouth, on April 11, 1931, George moved to Hayling at the age of nine when his family home was destroyed by a Second World War bomb.

Fortunately his family were not at home when the house was hit, so his parents, two sisters and brother set up home on the Island,

The children attended the Hayling Council School, before George began an apprenticeship as a carpenter/joiner with local company Sylvester's.

He began his National Service in 1951, in Gibraltar, with the army. When a request went out on the plane for people with motorcycle licences, George stepped forward even though he didn't have one.

But his experience of bikes stood him in good stead and he became an Army dispatch rider.

On embarkation leave, prior to his National Service, George married Betty Carter, his sweetheart of two years, and they enjoyed almost 58 very happy years of marriage.

On return from his service, George continued to develop his carpentry career working with Payne Bros and North Shore Yachts, in Chichester, where he worked until his retirement in 1996.

George dearly loved spending time with his wife and three children Mandy, Andrew and Barry, and often spent time at home playing the organ and teasing any of his eight grandchildren.

"We rarely saw dad when he wasn't laughing" said daughter Mandy.

He also spent time working on and riding his motorbikes, a passion he continued until his death at the age of 78.

The funeral was held on June 23, with a service at St Mary's Church conducted by the Rev Penny Payne, followed by a service at Portchester Crematorium.

The family joined together with friends to bid farewell to a much-loved family man.