You can read the full report of his funeral including an extract from the eulogy by friend John Stenhouse, what his family had to say, and the online page set up in his memory to help fund cancer research and support for children and young adults living with life threatening conditions in East Anglia, in this week's Diss Express.

In the meantime, here's what Rev Canon Tony Billett had to say, some old photos we found, and the lyrics from a song by Whitney Houston.

Peter Gillings and God will get along great.

That's the belief of the Rev Canon Tony Billett, who led the funeral service for Mr Gillings (known as PG) in St Mary’s Church last Friday.

There was hardly any black in sight as mourners turned up as outrageously dressed, as Mr Gillings often liked to do, himself.

His funeral, held on what would have been his 70th birthday, November 2, was surely a colourful as PG would have liked; with at one point, more than 600 people waving mini-Union Jacks, which had been paper-clipped on to the order of service card, as they sang Jerusalem.

Mr Gillings was one of the towns’ most celebrated characters.

Opening the moving, but often humorous service, Mr Billett welcomed people to celebrate the life of a “man of enormous energy” and “one of the most extraordinary men of Diss”.

“Peter Gillings was not a child of Diss but, my goodness, he has been an integral part of this town for so very long,” said Mr Billett.

“This was his home and place where he flourished as a human being and it is right that we should be here to mark what is one of Diss’ extraordinary members; the sort of member you get once in a generation.”

He added: “Heaven was in PG before he was in heaven.

“He was just a remarkably special person.

“We could easily fill a whole afternoon and more, celebrating stories about Pete.

“Absolutely everybody has a story, and every story is a tribute to his enormous generosity and his incredible kindness.

“I am sure Pete was no saint, because I know he could cross the line a bit, could he not?

“It is God who now has job of looking after PG.

"But if my understanding of God is right, he has one hell of a sense of humour, and he’ll be looking forward to this character, very, very much.”

* PG requested his long-time friend Stewart Walker read The Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston at his funeral - ideally in a Michael Caine accent.

(Why not give it a go yourself)

The Greatest Love of All

I believe the children are our are future

Teach them well and let them lead the way

Show them all the beauty they possess inside

Give them a sense of pride to make it easier

Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everybody searching for a hero

People need someone to look up to

I never found anyone who fulfill my needs

A lonely place to be

And so I learned to depend on me

I decided long ago

Never to walk in anyone's shadows

If I fail, if I succeed

At least I'll live as I believe

No matter what they take from me

They can't take away my dignity

Because the greatest

Love of all is happening to me

I found the greatest

Love of all inside of me

The greatest love of all

Is easy to achieve

Learning to love yourself

It is the greatest love of all

And if, by chance, that special place

That you've been dreaming of

Leads you to a lonely place

Find your strength in love

Click here for The Tribute to Peter Gillings fundraising page

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