THE funeral is to take place today of a champion of Cumbrian communities who 'loved people'.

William Gill, who has died aged 87, devoted 12 years of his career to the role of director of Voluntary Action Cumbria.

During that time he worked closely with parish councils, village hall committees and community-spirited residents across the county on volunteering and projects such as the best-kept village competition.

"Bill always loved people," said his wife Brenda. "He could converse with anybody at all. He was very well liked at work; he was so easy to get on with and that went a long way.

"He could stand up in a room full of people he didn't know and just give a speech without referring to any notes. He was amazing in that way."

The couple, who married in 1973, moved to Cumbria in 1979 when Mr Gill took up his job with Voluntary Action Cumbria - now called ACTion with Communities in Cumbria.

"He loved Cumbria," recalled Mrs Gill. "He used to spend the whole six weeks of the summer holidays in the Lake District when he was younger because his aunt and uncle were gardeners for a big estate. It was like a dream come true when he got the job in Cumbria."

Originally from Liverpool, Mr Gill served in the RAF before working for Merseyside's hospitals board, then moved to Cheshire to work in industry, and later for the probation service.

Upon relocating to Cumbria, the Gills settled in Skelton, near Penrith, then Tirril.

They made their home in Kendal, on High Fellside, from 1992 to 99.

Mrs Gill worked on the fashion floor at Kendal department store JR Taylor, now Beales, while her husband worked as a court usher for eight years after retiring, a role he loved.

Mr Gill had lived in a Cheshire nursing home for the past three years after a fall. Despite having Parkinson's disease, Mrs Gill told the Gazette he never lost his characteristic sense of humour, warmth and kindness.

"He was very, very funny. Even though he couldn't communicate, his expressions made me laugh every time I went to visit him. He still had that funny personality. He was very thoughtful, very kind."

Mr Gill died peacefully on December 13, and his funeral is to be held today (Thursday, December 29) at Manchester Crematorium, at 11am.