The people of Herne Bay came together today to say farewell to big-hearted barber Kevin Almond.

Cub Scout leader, roller hockey coach, beekeeper, business owner, charity fundraiser and hairdresser – there were many reasons he was remembered by the hundreds who gathered in the town centre outside his Nutcutters salon and at a memorial service at the Kings Hall.

The 55-year-old belonged the Dead Horse Morris, who performed a traditional morris dance for one of their own.

They were joined by Kevin’s wife, Kay, and their children.

His coffin was decorated with pictures of him and his family and carried in a hearse pulled by a single motorcycle.

It was his passion for motorbikes that tragically claimed his life earlier this month after he was killed in a crash near Hollingbourne.

At the memorial at the Kings Hall, son Stuart read a eulogy, saying: “It’s amazing to see so many people.

“Dad was a man of passion. He was not just a hairdresser, but a landlord, beekeeper, morris dancer, and many, many people remember him as a charity fundraiser.”

Stuart told those who had gathered that Kevin was born in Singapore and at one stage risked not having a British passport.

After moving to Britain he became known for his acting while at school, but he had to turn down a scholarship to a drama school.

He trained as a hairdresser in Luton and moved to Herne Bay in 1982 when the opportunity arose to open up a salon in Bank Street.

Stuart added: “In the salon, Dad occupied the hallowed back room of the shop.

“There were lots of rules, such as ‘never put your hands in your pockets’ and ‘always look busy’, otherwise you knew he would find a job for you to do.

“He broke any expectations about life owing you anything. It doesn’t. He set you up for life. There was so much I still wanted us to do together.”

Wife Kay would have celebrated seven years of marriage with Kevin on September 30. She said: “I love him more than anyone in the world and I miss him.

“Seven years was never enough time. We had so many plans and things we wanted to achieve. It will now be up to me and the children to achieve them in his memory. I’m very proud of him. He was a generous man who carried on with a smile on his face.

“His face would light up, and he had a cheeky schoolboy grin that allowed him to get away with everything.

“When he would get home from work there would be so many hugs and kisses for the children. To know he won’t be able to tell the children he loves them is unbearable.

“He was my one true love. I will continue to love him forever, just as I always said.”

Music at the service was performed by Kevin’s favourite band, who sang an a capella version of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life was also played.

Best pal Paul Whiteing said his friends will remember his sense of humour and pranks.

He told mourners: “Kevin lived life to the full and was determined to have as much fun from every moment as he could.”

Kevin leaves four grown-up children – Jamie, Sarah, Stuart and James – from his first marriage to Annette Good, and four children – Jude, 15, Jess, 11, Alex, nine, and six-year-old Ted – with Kay.

Since his death, more than 170 donations have been made to a charity fundraising effort set up by his wife in his memory.

As the Gazette went to print, the figure stood at more than £3,000. To add your donation please visit www.justgiving.com/Kevinalmond