A FLEET of scooter enthusiasts joined a procession to the funeral of a popular man who helped raise thousands of pounds for charity.

David Cleary, a member of Worcester Three Pears Scooter Club for more than six years, died on Sunday August 6 following a long battle with prostate cancer.

Dozens of mourners, including many riders, met at Homebase car park, in Hylton Road, today (Wednesday, August 30), before riding through Worcester and escorting the hearse to Astwood Cemetery for a service in his memory.

Following his cremation, the congregation moved on to Mr Cleary's favourite pub the Camp House Inn, Grimley, near Worcester, where they they donned pork pie hats in his memory.

As a member of the scooter club, he helped raise funds for various organisations and charities, including the Midlands Air Ambulance, Severn Area Rescue Association and Headway, a brain injury charity.

He also acted as the group's Father Christmas distributing chocolates to young carers in Perdiswell.

For many years, Mr Cleary has held a 'Bash' to celebrate his birthday where he raised cash for his chosen charities. This year he was too unwell to attend the event on Wednesday, August 2 but the celebration went ahead and raised £1,600 for St Richard's Hospice, Worcester Cancer Aid and the Midlands Air Ambulance.

The scooter enthusiast started with a Vespa GTS 135 and progressed to a 300 edition.

His wife of more than 28 years said Mr Cleary's first love was a Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) 1959 Shooting Star motorbike.

The 66-year-old, who was known as Papa Smurf, was close friends with Chalky Martin, front man of Worcester-based The GT's. He would perform with the band every year at Sunshine Festival in Upton upon Severn, and this year a banner in his memory was erected.

Mr Martin said: "He was ace. He was like my dad, after he died - telling me off the same too. He was at everything we did."

He performed with The GT's for the last time at Mello Festival at Throckmorton Airfield in May.

Chairman of Worcester Three Pears Scooter Club Richard Rimell said: "He was always hands on. He helped anyone and sometimes he would be wrong but he would never let you down.

"We always needed a Father Christmas for our charity event – he would grow his beard long for Christmas because he looked like Father Christmas.

"He loved music and camping."

Fellow club member Richard Greenway added: "He was such a big character. He would dress up as Papa Smurf and as Father Christmas.

"We'd call him Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses because he looked like him."

On his cancer diagnosis, Mr Greenway said: "Men being men don’t get checked out. He added: "He found out too late to do anything about it. "

During his life Mr Cleary helped build fire engines at Carmichael's in Worcester, worked on the railway in Milton Keynes, spent some time working for Thames Valley Police and became a highly-skilled carpenter before retiring at 65.

He was also a big country and western fan.

He lived with Crohn's disease for many years, undergoing a serious operation as a result of the condition, and became a member of Crohn's & Colitis UK.

Born in Hallow, Mr Cleary spend much of his life in the village, before moving to a static caravan to the nearby Sinton Green six-years-ago.

He is survived by his wife Doreen, sons Daniel and Matthew and granddaughter Melissa, aged 21.