TRIBUTES have been paid to a remarkable man who dedicated his life to the Weymouth community and particularly the cricket club.
John Cake died soon after his 90th birthday following a long battle with cancer.
Whilst having a successful career fitting equipment to submarines, which took him across the globe, he still found time to immerse himself in family and community life.
He refereed Dorset football, led youth clubs in Weymouth, Crossways and Chickerell, coached trampolining, and supervised Sunday evening swimming sessions at Bovington Camp.
He was well known for his 75 year association with Weymouth Cricket Club, which was dear to his heart. He performed every role at the club and served as president for more than 25 years.
Mr Cake was also an active member of Weymouth and Portland Lions, eventually becoming president and later zone (district) chairman.
Mr Cake attended Weymouth Grammar School and met his wife Val at a youth club in 1954. They married in 1959 and went on to have three children, Steve, Julie, and Shaun.
Mr Cake treasured family holidays taking his children to places like Magaluf and Ibiza - complete with sombreros and straw donkeys - and later to his beloved Tenerife.
He especially enjoyed trips to the Epcot, in Orlando, Florida, where he enjoyed the fireworks and swimming with dolphins.
A family tribute read: "Boxing Day swims, Somerset cricket trips, fish and chips, pasties, Tribute beer and cream teas all formed part of a life lived with enthusiasm and humour.
"One moment he always treasured: standing as a steward at Wembley on the day England won the 1966 World Cup singing Abide with Me.
"Even after a difficult cancer diagnosis, he fought bravely for more than twenty years, determined to reach his 90th birthday - a goal he achieved just weeks before he passed away.
"In the words of his granddaughter, he was 'our true hero'. He loved life, loved his family deeply and left us with memories filled with joy, laughter and unconditional love."
Friend Dickie Pearce, a former chairman of the cricket club, recounted his favourite memory: "We had a meeting with the college which took over Redlands and told us all the things they wanted to do.
"John stayed resolute. He wasn't going to have them do anything that took away from what Weymouth had. He was determined.
"I can remember him at Redlands cleaning the covers. With those April easterly winds we were frozen stiff. I said to him: 'We're the only two that aren't going to use these.'
"He laughed and said it was for the club. He liked things done properly. He turned up at every meeting and selection meetings. He advised the captains and just wanted the club to do things properly.
"We always had to have a bottle of Tribute and a pasty and we even got on the Sky Sports cameras."
Former president and first team player Andy Jarvis said Mr Cake did a 'tremendous amount of work behind the scenes'.
He added: "It was a privilege to have known John and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him at the club."