More than 1,000 motorcycle enthusiasts who turned out for a charity bike run, stood in silence in Truro on Sunday morning as a mark of respect for David Paull who died on Saturday after a long illness, writes Cornwall Centre Auto Cycle Union president Mr John Bassett.

David's death means that Cornwall's motorcycle sporting scene has lost one of its most colourful characters from the 1950s and early 60s.

David's two big sporting passions were scrambles and the Ariel motorcycles which he rode most weekends in and around Cornwall.

He also excelled in trials and hillclimbs and for many years was known as "the man to beat."

His first business venture was a small motorcycle repair shop in Chacewater, near Truro. This soon became the meeting place for other local motorcycling enthusiasts and was a hive of activity late into most evenings.

From these humble beginnings - with the help of his late wife Joan - he built up a large dealership which took many successful turns.

Later David opened a hi-tech engineering enterprise in Treleigh, Redruth, which he continued to oversee until a week ago before he died.