FRIENDS and family gathered this week to say farewell to a "true gentleman" who loved to tread the boards.

From Barnum to Brigadoon, Guys and Dolls to Alan Ayckbourn, Norman Wileman was a devoted and popular member of Grange Drama and Kendal Amateur Operatic Society.

The 82-year-old's funeral at Beetham Hall Crematorium yesterday was attended by well-wishers and relatives including his niece Clare Drysdale and nephew Tom Wileman. Their late father, Geoffrey, was Mr Wileman's brother.

Mrs Drysdale told the Gazette it had been "consoling and humbling" to read the "amazing" tributes from fellow performers on Facebook.

"Oh my. The end of an era," posted one. "I have played opposite him in so many plays... always such fun to be with!What treasured memories I'm left with."

Another said: "A true gentleman and it was a pleasure to have worked alongside him and spent endless fun and joyous times."

Margaret McDonagh, of Grange Drama - formerly Grange Amateur Dramatic Society - described their former treasurer and actor as "a thespian friend to many of us".

"The range and number of parts undertaken were astonishing," she told the Gazette, "and he trod the boards in more than 20 productions, his last being in Suddenly at Home as Inspector Appleton in 2013.

"The fact he donned motorcycle gear and helmet and rode over from Kendal on the A590, come hail or shine, was in itself an amazing record. Not only did he go on stage, of course, he could be seen helping dismantle sets after a show as well as dealing with the takings; yes, he ran our "counting house" for many a year as well."

Mr Wileman lived at Burneside Road, Kendal, and worked at the town's Barclays Bank until he retired. He died at Royal Lancaster Infirmary after a short illness, on February 24.

His niece said he was "enormously proud" to be recognised with a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to the Kendal community, including his involvement with Kendal Air Cadets and the Westmorland Gazette's talking newspaper for visually impaired and blind people.

"Never someone to seek attention, he was thrilled by it all," said Mrs Drysdale. "I had the privilege of being Norman's plus-one at Buckingham Palace last year. We had a wonderful day and we giggled that it was probably the best fruit cake ever as we went back for seconds."

Mr Wileman lived in the Burneside bungalow where he was born and where his brother Geoffrey grew up. Their parents, Tom and Sally, owned a signwriting and decorating business on Kendal's Wildman Street. Their grandparents ran the town's Bridge Hotel.

After attending Kendal Grammar School, the young Norman did his National Service at Catterick, then joined Martins Bank, later Barclays, in Kendal.

Mr Wileman loved to travel, including to Machu Picchu in Peru, and around Scotland on his motorbike. Before his death he had been planning a trip to Vietnam.