The funeral of dedicated bellringer Michael Luffman, 81, will be next Thursday at the church in All Cannings where he worshipped for many years.

Mr Luffman, who lived in the village, was a bellringer for more than 40 years and was honoured in 2012 for his dedication at a surprise ceremony where he was presented with a special certificate.

At the time he rang regularly at All Saints’ Church in All Cannings but also rang at other churches at weekends.

He practised five nights a week, including at Marden, Devizes, Avebury, Bishops Cannings, Urchfont and Heddington.

Mr Luffman, who was born in London, first came to All Cannings as an evacuee aged just five. His wife Cynthia said: “The young children thought they were going for a day out to the seaside but instead they were being evacuated.”

But his time in Wiltshire was a happy one and he loved the countryside and so after the war he returned to the village as soon as he was old enough. He often did the journey from London to All Cannings on his bike and remained a regular cyclist until just a few months before his death on December 19.

He met Cynthia from Potterne and they married in 1961. The couple’s first son died just hours after he was born but they went on to have two other sons, Martin and Nicholas.

He worked in the building trade all of his life and in October was diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease believed to have been caused by his work.

In June Mr Luffman suffered a heart attack during the Concert At The Kings music festival but thanks to St John Ambulance staff from the concert was quickly helped.

Mrs Luffman said: “Everyone in the village was wonderfully supportive then and they are helping me now as well. I couldn’t ask for more kindness.”

Mr Luffman, whose other hobbies included classical music, steam trains and photography, spent the last two weeks of his life in Dorothy House Hospice at Winsley and a collection will be held for the charity at the funeral and in lieu of flowers.

Mrs Luffman said her husband would be remembered as a quiet man but someone who got on with people of all ages. She said: “He was very much a people person.”

The funeral will be held in All Saints Church at 11.30am on January 15 and will be followed by a burial in the village cemetery.