IN JUST hours, the community rallied behind an appeal to raise £3,000 to pay for the funeral of Island surfing guru David 'Dave’ Gray, who died at his Ventnor home last Friday.
A friend of Mr Gray’s set up a JustGiving appeal on Monday and within 24 hours the total had been reached.
Mr Gray’s two sons and daughter, Elliott, Dylan and Emily, had been left wondering where they would find the money after their father died suddenly.
His son, Elliott, said: "We were deeply touched by the response and very grateful to all those who gave to the appeal."
Mr Gray, 56, was born and educated on the Island and fell in love with surfing while a student at Carisbrooke High School. He was also a keen skateboarder.
Surfing was an enduring passion and such was his talent he was the first to be sponsored on the Island and the first Island surfer to compete in the English Nationals.
He inspired many people to become involved in the sport, not least those at the Wight Water centre, at Sandown Bay, where he was surf instructor for several years. More recently, he was employed by Ventnor Town Council as the maintenance manager at the Winter Gardens.
He went on to fill the same role at the council’s Salisbury Gardens, public toilets and central car park.
And for five years he had undertaken an important beach safety role in the town.
He leaves his three children.
The funeral service and a paddle out at Compton in his honour will be held on a date to be arranged.