MOVING tributes have poured in for a much-loved Greenock man who devoted his life to helping young people and serving his community.

Grandad Peter Walker, who was born and bred in the east end, was a committed officer of the 14th Greenock Boys' Brigade company for nearly 40 years.

He also served as a Justice of the Peace and a special police constable.

In a heartfelt show of respect BB members of Inverclyde Battalion formed a guard of honour for the 78-year-old outside Greenock Crematorium on his funeral yesterday.

Peter passed away shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer.

The hugely respected family man is remembered as an inspiration in his various roles in the community.

Friend William Dempster, honorary vice-president of the Boys Brigade's Inverclyde & District Battalion, said: "Peter was often described as a gentleman and his life touched many in the community.

"This was reflected in the large number of tributes received by his family following his passing and also by members of the Inverclyde & District Battalion.

"Peter always had a smiling face and he will be sadly missed by the Brigade family throughout Inverclyde."

Many ex-14th members posted touching tributes online after Peter's passing was announced.

Peter was born in Belville Street and went to the Belville Primary school, joining the 14th as a youngster and ending up as officer in charge of the company section.

He'd left school at 15, working as a stores boy in Scotts, ending up a joiner to trade, and had a brief spell in the Royal Marines.

He spent most of his working life with the council, retiring as an assistant area housing manager in Port Glasgow.

Peter was devoted to his wife Cathie, their two boys, Allan, now 53, and Andrew, now 49.

Apart from a brief spell in East Kilbride early in their married life, the couple lived in Greenock throughout at the family home in Dunlop Street.

Community-spirited Peter spent 20 years as police 'special' and one of the proudest achievements of his life was being appointed a JP, serving in the district court for 13 years.

Peter's service in the community did not stop there, he was a member of the prison visiting committee at HMP Gateside for seven years and worked as a volunteer at Bagatelle nursing home too.

From a young age he was a member of the Elim Church and a Sunday school teacher.

He went on to serve as an elder and stalwart of the Greenock East United Reformed Church.

In his spare time he loved to play bowls at Ardgowan Club, where he is a past president.

Peter was also a long-serving member of Lodge Cumberland Kilwinning No. 217

William added: "Peter was a family man at heart and he was delighted when his granddaughter Molly was born in 2012.

"Peter spent many happy times as a doting grandad and he enjoyed some 54 years marriage with Cathie and many happy holidays together."