Family and friends have paid a final farewell to popular cyclist and triathlete Francis Hamlett.

The 50-year-old died after suffering a cardiac arrest while out mountain biking with friends in Apedale Country Park last month.

Francis, from Hartshill, was a big part of the athletics scene in North Staffordshire and had founded the cycling group Night Riders.

Members of the group, who wore their Night Riders kit, were among more than 100 people who attended Francis's funeral at St Wulstan's Catholic Church in Wolstanton on Tuesday.

Father Dominic Chukka said: “Francis grew up in the country and had a gang of friends who he would go and climb trees with.

“He would be mischievous and would be in trouble quite often.

“Francis would take his sons on a boys-only camping trip every year where they would learn the survival skills he knew.

“He was a fantastic father who told his children that he loved them and they loved him.

“Glen did amateur dramatics and told his children he was an extra in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and they watched to see him before he told them that he had been cut out so he wouldn’t upstage Kevin Costner.”

Apedale Community Country Park
Apedale Community Country Park

Following the church service the funeral procession moved on to Keele Cemetery for the burial attended by friends and family.

Night Rider and close friend Rachel Trpeski, aged 43, of Alsager, said: “It was a beautiful service and a lot of people attended, which was good to see.

“All of the Night Riders came and wore a touch of pink which is the colour of the Night Riders.

“He was unbelievable as a man he was just one in a million and would give his last second to help others, he was everyone’s best friend.

Francis was a father of four and a keen athlete
Over 100 cyclists rode down the A34 at night in memory of Triathlete Francis Hamlett

“I was the first female Night Rider and he helped me to become an iron woman triathlete. He would help anyone that needed it and encouraged people through triathlons and iron man events.

“He loved his kids to bits and was a great dad. I think that his eldest might start riding with us which will be nice.

“He was a real joker and was the life and soul of the party, he was always laughing and joking.”