A daughter has praised the care that the Falmouth community gave her father in the final months leading up to this death.

Andrea Brown said many people had rallied around her father Malcolm Perkins after he was taken ill in February and continued to do so until two weeks ago, when he moved to be with her in Northamptonshire.

He sadly passed away last week, after battling three life-threatening illnesses but ultimately losing his fight against lung cancer.

Andrea said: "The people of Falmouth were so lovely and eager to help.

"I will be forever in their debt."

Malcolm, who spent all his family holidays in Cornwall, retired to Falmouth in early 1990 with his wife Diane.

After her death 12 years ago he joined the Falmouth History Group as a volunteer and Falmouth Camera Club. He was also a regular of the Four Winds pub and Boslowick Inn before they closed.

Falmouth Packet:

Andrea with her parents Diane and Malcolm on her wedding day in 2004

He became ill in February, shortly before his 84th birthday the following month, and needed some additional support from Penhellis Community Care, based in Helston, with Andrea saying how care worker Trish visited him every week.

Home deliveries were set up to deliver shopping from Sainsbury’s every week, but after the coronavirus lockdown Malcolm found it hard to get a slot, despite being a priority customers.

That is when Andrea turned to Facebook for help, posting a message on the Your Falmouth High Street group.

Alex Falconer, a member of Covid-19 Mutual Aid and Solidarity Falmouth and Penryn, and the Truro and Falmouth Constituency Labour Party Coronavirus Community Assistance group, subsequently made contact.

Full of praise, Andrea said: "Alex Falconer got in touch and each week I would send him pops's shopping list, and every Wednesday Rob Phillips would deliver.

"A couple of times I needed additional help getting pops's prescription, where volunteers again queued at the chemist and then delivered to his home.

"One week pops's TV control stopped working so we ordered a new one - but it would take several days, so again I asked for help from Alex for some batteries on the off chance it was battery related. They were purchased and dropped off."

Falmouth Packet:

Malcolm Perkins moved to Falmouth in 1990 and was a member of local groups

She also thanked his neighbours Debbie and Paul, who she said helped him over the years and during this time, and the staff at Trescobeas Surgery, who she described as "fantastic."

"The care Dad got was wonderful. Thank you Falmouth," added Andrea.

Alex said the small mutual aid group set up just before the lockdown had had now completed done more than 300 deliveries in the local community and worked closely with local charities and foodbanks.

He said: "Malcolm was one our regulars and was usually taken care of by Rob Phillips. We were gutted to hear about his passing but glad that he was with his daughter Andrea.

"Things have quietened down a bit since the lockdown eased, but we still have regular referrals we take care of and do deliveries for the food bank each week.

"We don’t take any donations for the group but encourage everyone to donate to the local food bank."