The funeral service of the late David Naylor of North Hill was held at Glynn Valley Crematorium on February 21.

The eulogy was read by David’s brother, Robert.

Dave was born in Clapham to Pam and Bob Naylor in 1954. He lived at first in Streatham, and then by the time Robert came along the family were living in the police flats at Coniston Court in Sydenham. They had a happy time there and made lifelong friends with neighbours - Pete and Doreen Hobday with their children Andrew, Stephen and - later on Kate. They grew up with police officers children - going to the Warren Sports Club to meet up and play on the play equipment - slides etc - which both agreed recently would now be banned on Health and Safety grounds.

Dave struggled with asthma most of his life and in 1962 they moved to the cleaner air of New Addington living right next door to the new - but tiny - police office. Dave liked going next door to see the stray dogs and looking at the police ‘noddy’ bikes.

New Addington in 1962 - despite its reputation was a very happy place for Dave. He became a cub, took an interest in acting at Grandison College in Croydon, put on puppet shows and joined up with the neighbour's children to roam the woods at Featherbed Lane and build camps.

In 1967 they moved to Biggin Hill where Dave began to show an interest in motor bikes, electronics, Scalextric and latterly girls. Since New Addington he was keen to join the police and in 1970 he joined the Metropolitan Police Cadets at Hendon. His mother was so proud that the boy who had suffered so badly from asthma was now doing a whole host of physical activities - cross country running, boxing and judo. Sadly after 15 months Dave had an accident on an assault course in Ashford and had to leave. Dave completed a City and Guilds electronics qualification at Dartford College - using a Robin Reliant three wheeler to get there, long before the Rodney and Del Boy!

In 1972 they moved to Coulsdon and Dave got a job with Wilds of Caterham - a small firm which specialised in the supply of machine belts. The perk of this job was that they provided a van which Dave could use outside work. During this time he made many friends of customers - including Pat and Dennis. Using his electronics know how Dave set up his own travelling disco - Dave's Disco Services. He even made the turntable deck and covered it with black vinyl - well we thought it was cool at the time, said Robert. During this time he met Barbara and they were married in early 1976.

Dave had never given up on being a police officer and in April 1975 he joined the Metropolitan Police. Here he made lifelong friends - including Chris Hardy who joined the police on the same day. The Metropolitan Police was the family firm with father a police officer, mother a former police officer and Dave, Barbara and Robert all serving officers at one point.

Dave got posted to Vine Street in the West End during the height of the IRA London bombing campaign. Dave remembered going to the scene of several bomb attacks and was quite affected by it. He was called to a huge punch up at a hotel and was thrown down some stairs in the melee. His back injury was to haunt him the rest of his life.

Robert and Dave’s mother died of leukaemia in 1981 - she was only 51 and it was a huge shock for all. Dave missed her terribly - and would often talk about her - a woman who in her brief life had been nurse, police woman, teacher and mother. Dave was able to get a posting to Croydon about a year later.

But 1981 also saw the joyful arrival of Dave and Barbara's first child Sharon. Dave was an excited parent and devoted father. Dave and Barbara moved to Coulsdon - first to Ridgemount Avenue and then to St Andrews Road. Here they made many friends including Lesley and Michael. Dave's son Mark followed Sharon three years later. They were happy years and the family have many happy memories of the families playing together while Dave studied for promotion and was successful.

He was promoted to sergeant and posted to South Norwood division in 1989. Here he undertook a wide range of supervisory duties including local training and made another lifelong friend - Mick Brear. Whilst at New Addington station he made friends with another sergeant Derek Robertson. Dave was on duty when tragically Derek was killed trying to detain an armed robber. This had a huge impact on Dave.

In the following years Dave and Barbara were moving apart from each other and this culminated in their divorce in 2003. Things weren't going well for Dave on the health front - his back was more painful than ever and he developed headaches and chest pains. He retired on an ill health pension after 28 years’ service and he decided to start a new life in Cornwall. That's when he bought Waycross Cottages in North Hill. His health continued to deteriorate resulting in an emergency admission to hospital and quadruple heart by-pass operation in 2006.

But that year 2006 was a major turning point in Dave's fortunes and he met and fell in love with Gill and they were married in 2007 at Carnglaze Caverns. They reaffirmed their vows there in 2012 and 2018. Gill's family Mary and Peter, her mother and father, Robert, Susan and Heather - who Dave with his characteristic turn of phrase called the ‘Sisters of Mercy’ - all of them took Dave to their hearts. Gill and Dave's life in Cornwall was for almost 20 years full and fulfilled.

Dave became a grandfather to Nathan in 2012 and Elise in 2017. Although a long way from them he would call them every week to find out how they were doing.

Dave was a kind man. I am sure no one here who will disagree. Robert’s first abiding memory of this kindness was Dave letting him sleep in his bed when he was a frightened four year old after a bad dream. He was kind and tolerant of his little brother. Even as a teenager he took him out and treated him.

When I was telling people about Dave's death the most frequent word used to describe him was "kind". How as that expressed? He was always doing things for others:

When he first came to Cornwall he was a stalwart supporter of the hospital car service - using his car to get local people to appointments. As it happens this was how Dave came to meet Gill - buying chocolate from the shop in South Petherwin between appointments.

He would make up computers from spare bits and give them to people who wouldn't be able to afford them. He helped people with their computers and their electrics.

He threw himself into the local pantos and for years provided the sound systems to support them - as well as providing the sound systems for a variety of local charities include the village hall at North Hill.

He would record local events like the panto and then provide copies for those involved.

He would be Father Christmas each year riding round the North Hill area on a towed sleigh. Sometimes in a single night he would see over 90 delighted children. Just five weeks before he died he was still being Father Christmas - except that someone else had to do his Ho Ho Ho on the microphone because he was too ill to say it himself.

Every year he was a great supporter of the Macmillan Coffee Morning. He would support many charity events to raise money - including setting up his extensive Scalextric track to encourage people to race each other. This included multi lane layouts.

He was a born enthusiast. He had wide interests and threw himself into them.

These included Cornwall. Dave loved Cornwall and he regarded himself as Cornish albeit he was born in Clapham. His mother was Cornish and when Dave's bronchitis was bad in the early 60s - the Clean Air Act had just been passed and the dreadful smogs were a recent memory - the doctor suggested a change in air for him. He went to live for several months in Wadebridge with his grandparents Fred and Doris. Those months were pivotal. He had their undivided attention and nanny passed on her great love of Cornwall - its scenery, its industry and most importantly for Dave - its rich folklore and traditions.

Dave followed in his nanny's footsteps and became a member of the Old Cornwall Society. He gave lots of talks on a very wide range of subjects. The King Harry Ferry across the Fal was a favourite topic - because a relative was involve in setting it up. Even his own cottage at North Hill became a talk subject because Dave found out it had been the parish workhouse long ago. He gave talks about mines, models, railways and latterly uranium glass - in this he was an expert with followers throughout the UK.

He loved motor bikes - he first rode mopeds at a teachers field when we lived at Biggin Hill. Then he got a whole range of bikes and scooters including his beloved BSA Bantam. He was especially interested in old police bikes - inspired by seeing his father on the old noddy bikes when they lived in New Addington. Sadly his bad back and the lack of electric ignitions on old bikes prevented him from riding them in the last few years.

He had a huge interest in entertaining people - one way was through murder mystery parties. Often here in Cornwall these were for raising money for charity. Dressing up was a key element. Dave has a strong theatrical streak and loved the strong story telling element of the parties.

He collected models of all sorts. Scalextric, Hornby, Minic Motorway, Dinky and Corgi cars - developing a specific interest in police models. He was keen to share his enthusiasm.

Robert concluded: “This tribute doesn't do Dave justice for all the other things he was. But he was likeable, he was fun, he was loved and he loved. His was a life well lived.”

Family mourners: Robert Naylor, brother; Sharon and Regan Heath, daughter and son in law; Nathan and Elise Heath, grandchildren; Mark Naylor, son; James Naylor, nephew; Mary Scullard, mother in law; Susan Scullard, sister in law; Robert and Lorraine Scullard, brother in law and wife; Heather and Martin Ashdown, sister in law and husband; Laura Maylock-Ashdown, niece; Ben Ashdown, nephew.

General public attending: Marina Pridham, Mary Budge (Hayley), Pete and Val Game. Angie West (Cedric Wheeler), Roger and Barbara Spragg; Luke Steel, Kirstie Steel, Maureen Carney, Martin and Jayne Hynes, Elkie MacDonald, Ian MacDonald, Nigel and Janet Batley, Gregory and Susan Wright, Neil Biddle, Wendy Fairbrass, Lesley and Michael Deans, Mike Breare, Jo Birtbrack, Betit and Da Richards, Pete and Jane Woods, Brian Retallack, Andy Crocombe, Phyllis Harrison, Carol Titcombe, Mary Lucey, Brian Davis, Kate Rowland, Richard and Sue Boggis, Jackie Radford, Brian and Judy Polland, Josephine Farwell, Richard Farwell, Chris and Heather Hardy, Maureen Carney, Lorraine and Paul Sculland.