Hundreds gather in Mildenhall to pay tribute to well-known figure in the Traveller community Richard Oakley from Beck Row

Hundreds of people gathered in a Suffolk town centre to pay tribute to a ‘larger than life’ character and well-known figure in the Traveller community who has died.

Richard Oakley died aged 71 on September 5 in Beck Row after a heart attack.

Friends and family gathered along Mildenhall High Street to pay their respects before a traditional procession and service in the town.

Richard was born in Drayton, near Norwich, on November 9, 1952, and moved to the city more than 50 years ago, before a stint in Bury St Edmunds and eventually settling in Beck Row.

He was married to Lilly Oakley for 54 years and was a tradesman throughout his life with a fondness for wagons and animals namely horses.

His son, Mark Oakley, 49, who lives in Holywell Row, said: “My dad was an all-round great father and family man and he was my best friend as well as my dad.

“I have so many good and fond memories of him and he did so much for me that I will never forget.

“He particularly loved his horses and looked after them all his life and had five of them before he died.

“He was a proper old-fashioned boy and horses were definitely his biggest passion.”

A traditional procession including three horses started in Beck Row yesterday and made its way to St Mary’s Church in Mildenhall for a service before heading back to St John’s Church in Beck Row.

Reverend David Butcher led the service and Richard’s granddaughter Scarlett sung two songs - Where the Boys Are and Only You.

Outside the church, the town’s high street was lined with people who had come to pay their respects.

Mark said: “My dad was well-known and really popular in the travelling community and had a very tight-knit relationship with the people in it.”

“He was a larger than life character and had a very good sense of humour.

“He was always cracking a joke and you had probably heard the joke before but it still made you laugh.

“He was a brilliant man and dad and he will be sorely missed by a lot of people.”