HUNDREDS of people turned out at to pay their final respects at the funeral of High Wycombe's “loveable rebel” - Gordon 'Carrot' Lumsden.

Mr Lumsden, 44, was found dead at his flat in Chairborough Road, High Wycombe, on January 13 - sparking a wave of tributes and support from Wycombe residents.

Friends gathered outside The Chiltern Crematorium and watched on as the hearse carrying Carrot's coffin - handmade by his brothers Adam and Kenneth Lumsden - rolled up to the entrance.

Carrot's mother Theresa led the coffin - carried by his brothers, nephew and former partner - into the crematorium to a song recorded by the popular Wycombe busker.

Ray Fisher led the service, telling the gathered congregation about the former St Augustine's and St Bernard's school pupil's “eventful life”.

He talked about Carrot's arrest at a peace march to his love of music leading him to becoming “a firm fixture in High Wycombe”.

Henri Brocklebank, a former long time girlfriend of Mr Lumsden, gave an emotional speech to the congregation in which she thanked Carrot's “physical being and loveable spirit”.

She said: “Carrot's mum said he could charm the birds out the trees, well I'm one of those birds.

“I would like to thank Carrot, the physical being – he had a really great, infectious laugh and great legs, not many people knew that.

“The second thing I'd like to thank is his lovable spirit, I had many heated arguments with him because he would always be late to a music gig he played at a club in Brighton.

“He was a better musician than the club's resident musician and, while it wasn't his gig, everyone came to see him but he was always late.

“Under duress, he finally told me he turned up late to let the other guy have his shine – that is the kind of person he was - he was loved by so many people in his life.

“Like they say, don't judge a book by its cover, turn the page.”

Carrot's brother Adam thanked the gather congregation for their support and joked Carrot would be “looking down on us idiots laughing”.

He went on to talk about his final Christmas with his brother. He said: “He came down to mine for Christmas dinner – we had a great do, a good crack.

“It's nice to know my last memory is a great one. He will be missed greatly.”

A final tribute to the blues-loving busker was then read out by Mr Fisher on behalf of Carrot's mother Theresa Lumsden, who thanked guests for their attendance.

She said she was “overwhelmed” by the amount of support from well wishers who created a makeshift memorial in White Hart Street and posted comments on the 10,000 member-strong Facebook memorial group.

She added: “Gordon had Christmas dinner with his brother and as he left he said 'I better go, my fan club will be waiting'.

"He would be surprised to see he was right”. Her comment brought a roar of approval from the packed Hampden Chapel.

Tears were shed and others nodded their heads in approval as the classic blues-rock classic Bad To The Bone rang out from the chapel's speakers during a moment of private reflection - before the final committal to another Carrot recording.

A reception was later held at the Nags Head pub in London Road were friends and family flocked to share one last toast to the “lovable rebel”.

An open mic acoustic jam session charity event will be held at The Belle Vue in Gordon Road from 3.30pm on Sunday in memory of the popular busker.

Donations of clothes and blankets will be taken and passed on to Wycombe Night Shelter.

High Wycombe town Mayor Julie Pritchard will also dedicate a charity concert to the memory of Carrot.

A Concert for Carrot will feature readings by councillors and performances by a host of professional entertainers – with all proceeds also going to the night shelter charity.

The concert gets under way from 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 27 at All Saints Church in Castle Street. Entrance is free.

Meanwhile, the administrators of the Facebook tribute group have organised a memorial service outside the Llyods TSB bank in White Hart Street from 2pm today.