Friends, family and former colleagues gathered to pay farewell to have-a-go-hero William John Grove today.

More than 80 mourners filled St Matthias Church, in Richmond, to pay their respects to the World War Two RAF veteran, also known as John or Bill, who died at his Queens Road flat from natural causes on July 17.

His coffin was carried into the church where, 38 years earlier, Mr Grove married his wife Joan.

He will be remembered by some for the active role he took campaigning for Liberal Democrats, others as a dedicated member of the Friars Stile Road church’s congregation but by many for his daring heroics during an armed robbery in Richmond.

In October last year, then aged 84, Mr Grove made national news headlines when he unmasked a balaclava-wearing teenager, who was battering the display window of Ernest Jones, in George Street, with a sledgehammer.

Although he refused to accept he was a hero, Mr Grove’s actions won him police awards and his funeral did not go by without mention of his bravery.

Richmond Liberal Democrat, David Martin, described his intervention, which led to two teens being jailed, as a spectacular display of his “personal politics”.

“This he did with a military hold he learned in the war - and later demonstrated on me," he told the congregation.

More smiles and laughs were shared by gathered well-wishers, including Richmond Park MP, Susan Kramer, as family member, Peter Nicholson, told of Mr Grove’s early life in Battersea, his “amazing knowledge of south London” and “very keen sense of humour”, and spending much of the war in India.

He commented: “It’s a pity he did not like curry.”

Reverend Cate Irvine apologised for running out of orders of service - adding it would never had happened if Mr Grove had been in his usual place handing them out.

Hymns were sung as a reminder of Mr Grove’s Welsh ancestry, passages from the Bible read and prayers given.

Mr Martin said: “He was a wonderful problem solver, always reliable and never judgmental, always kind - he bore the marks of a true gentleman.

“We shall always have the happy memory of a good, kind and happy man who always made a contribution to a community that so fascinated him.”

After the service a committal was held at Mortlake crematorium.