Record holding Penryn rugby player Brian Bates has died suddenly at his home.
He spent 17 years playing for the town's first team and played a 14 different positions during his career - a record he still holds.
He began playing aged 15, first as a full back and ending as a prop in the late 1960s.
During his time in the Royal Air Force, he represented them at rugby and was flown to a lot of the matches around the country.
Flights to St Mawgan were also arranged when Penryn had important matches.
When stationed at Somerset, he played for Bath RFC until his national service was over.
Rugby was a big part of his life and he followed his stepson Steven Richardson's career and his three grandchildren also play.
But he also enjoyed other sports, playing cricket for St Gluvias and football for Penryn, snooker for Stithians and bowls for Stithians and then Penryn.
He was a member of Greenbank Rowing Club and Gig Club, crewed for Toby West in the Victory and was a member of Budock Vean Golf Club.
Mr Bate trained to be a plumber and served his apprenticeship with his grandfather in Falmouth.
He ran his own business before early retirement in the 1980s due to ill health.
He had many interests, was chairman of the Fal Breakers CB Club, a member and chairman of the Woodlane Social club and a member of Penryn Camera Club.
His funeral will be at Penmount Crematorium in Truro at 4pm on Friday.
It was his wish for everyone to attend an 'after match' get together at Penryn Rugby Club after the service.
