Hundreds of people turned out to bid farewell to a gentle giant with a great sense of humour.

Mourners gathered at St Mary’s Church in Harrington yesterday for the funeral of Christopher Peck, the Workington biker who died on May 2, 12 days after a crash in Brazil.

The former Royal Navy serviceman’s flower-adorned coffin was led into the church by Royal British Legion standard bearer Helen Holliday and carried by loved ones.

The song In Loving Memory by Alter Bridge was played as Mr Peck entered the church.

The song features the lyrics: “Thanks for all you’ve done. I’ve missed you for so long. I can’t believe you’re gone. You still live in me. I feel you in the wind. You guide me constantly.”

Miss Powley told the congregation Mr Peck, 34, was described by his family as “a gentle giant with a wicked, dry sense of humour and a Chewbacca laugh”.

“Just the sound of his laugh would make you laugh twice as hard,” she added.

“He liked to take the mickey out of people, especially his sisters. He was very well liked.”

She recounted how, the youngest of six children, Mr Peck had attended Our Lady and St Patrick’s and Netherhall schools in Maryport before going on to study forestry at Newton Rigg College.

Having spent time as a sea cadet in Maryport and been a junior champion in Cumbria Velo Club, he followed a spell as a chef with seven years serving in the Royal Navy.

For the past five years he had been a fisheries protection officer in the Falklands, where his father Robert was from.

Miss Powley described how rock music fan Mr Peck had been due to attend the Download Festival with his brother Sean next month, after his trip from the bottom of South America to Canada, which he had spent two years preparing for.

Reading from the bible the story of Jesus calming the storm, Miss Powley said it was understandable for people to find their faith weakened and become angry with God in difficult times.

Mr Peck’s sister Jeanine read the poem Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye, and the service featured Think of Me by Andre Rieu and Sound of Silence by Disturbed.

Mr Peck was carried from the church to Lullaby by Creed.

The service was followed by burial at Salterbeck Cemetery and a wake at the Green Dragon in Portland Square.

Mourners were given wallet-sized cards to remember Mr Peck, featuring his photo and the poem read during the service.

Cumbrian Newspapers attended the funeral with permission from Mr Peck’s family.