Peter Gillings, Honoured Citizen of Diss, has died, aged 69

One of Diss' best known and most-loved characters has died, aged 69.

Peter Gillings, who ran Gillings of Diss Ltd died this week, following a three-and a half year battle with cancer.

Mr Gillings, who was made an Honoured Citizen of Diss in March 2016, moved to the town with his parents in 1962, when he was 14-years-old.

Gillings of Diss has been based in Mission Road for more than 55 years, and where he also lived.

He is known to hundreds of people in the area, amongst many others things, for driving the town’s carnival queen each year and, more latterly, appearing on TV’s Come Dine With Me and Salvage Hunters.

He was a columnist for the Diss Express for many years, as well as a regular guest on Park Radio, which he officially opened last year.

He was also a Freeman of London.

In March this year, Mr Gillings, known locally as P.G. when speaking about his battle with cancer, said:

“I love Diss. I wasn’t born here, but I feel as though I have never known anywhere else and it is a place I have always called home.

“I have been accepted here; much to my amazement, because I am still an outsider, and still talk funny.

“But, if there is one thing this cancer has reminded me, it is how the people of Diss are absolutely the kindest, warmest people.

“I really get choked at the way people in the town have shown me support over the last three years.

“People have brought round meals, offered lifts to hospital and all sorts of things to show me they care.

“This includes people I don’t even really know.”

In 2012, he drove the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk through the town when the Royal Anglian Regiment was given the Freedom of Diss.

He was also guest of honour at the reception, hosted by then mayor Graham Minshull.

Graham Minshull, said: "Pete, as everybody knew him, was an institution in the town and everyone knew and loved him

"He was Mr Diss. I also had the honour of calling him a friend."

Mr Gillings was married to his second wife, Patricia, 76, who lives in America, for 23 years.

He leaves behind two children, Toni, 49, and Simon, 45, from his first marriage, of 22-years, to Trish Goralewski, nee Howell.