TRIBUTES have been paid to a dedicated husband with a cracking sense of humour after he lost his five-year battle with cancer.

Gary Falconer, of Bishop Auckland, died surrounded by his family and friends on Wednesday, July 17.

The 57-year-old had fought hard to overcome terminal prostate cancer with the support of his wife, Heather, who cared for him full time.

The pair met in Birmingham when Heather was 21 and Gary was 22, before they relocated to the North-East to be closer to Heather’s family.

After working in a variety of roles from bus driving, working in a wood yard and working in a laundrette, Mr Falconer struck gold with employment at Teesdale District Council, a job Mrs Falconer said he adored.

“Gary was always a very hard worker,” she said, “he drove Arriva buses for a while but he kept getting lost so he decided that wasn’t for him.

“When he applied for the job at Teesdale Council he didn’t think he would get it, he was severely dyslexic and lots of people had applied, but he did.

“He loved it.

“He used to say that people paid money to go to Teesdale and he got to go there every day for free.

“Everybody knew Gary, we couldn’t walk down the street in Barnard Castle without being stopped. He was the bald Brummie who worked for the council and everyone loved him.”

Mr Falconer worked at the council for 14 years before he became too unwell to continue with his duties.

However, he kept himself busy with charity work whilst also having chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Mrs Falconer added: “He would go to Butterwick Hospice for the day and he loved it there, the staff were fantastic.

“He would come home and tell me all of the lovely food he’d eaten. He used to say it was so lovely that it was a place to live, not a place to die.”

Mr Falconer also became a popular and active member of the Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group, founded by Allison White.

She said: “Gary was just the most wonderful person you could ever hope to meet.

“He never once complained about anything. He was always smiling and always had a joke to tell.

“He couldn’t have had better care than the care he received from Heather, she did everything for him.

“Our group members are devastated and he will be greatly missed by all of us. I’m glad I got to call him my friend.”

Mrs Falconer added: “He was such a kind, funny and caring man.

“He never judged anyone and always wanted to help people.

“Our house is full of cards and flowers from people who knew and loved him, it’s quite overwhelming.

“Gary never gave up fighting the cancer, we tried everything, three rounds of chemo and radiotherapy, all of the home remedies we could find, any treatment that they offered he tried it.

“He fought it right till the end. I am so proud of him.”

Mr Falconer’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, July 31 at 3.30pm at Wear Valley Crematorium and afterwards at Tindale WMC.