'Joe' Gainey, Penryn who made cannons dies aged 97

Joe was born in Helston Road, Penryn on November 30, 1924 to Ruby Isobel and Stanley Llewellyn Gainey a brother for their 18-month-old daughter Olga.

A proud Penryner, Joe grew up in Truro Lane. His maternal grandparents, the Tregenzas owned the row of houses. They started in a one bedroom house, moved into a two bedroom property and eventually to the end house which was converted for their growing family.

Sisters Pat, Pauline (known as Mickey) and Valerie were born in Truro Lane. Brother Paul (aka Oochie) was born many years later when the family moved to 42 Western Place.

At the age of 14 Joe got a job in Falmouth High Street, rewiring radio transformers. He was paid half a crown a week.

Sometime later Joe started work at Arthur (Dickie) Dunstan's Blacksmith shop at the bottom of Truro Lane. He spent hours as a child watching him and when he first went there the hammer was too heavy for him to lift. He actually worked there for ten years.

Joe joined the Home Guard when he was 16, lying that he was 17 because he wanted to get in.

Joe wanted to join the army but wasn't allowed, he had to make horse shoes for the army with iron supplied by Mallets and they mended ploughs etc.

At the end of the war Joe joined the fire brigade. He initially joined full time but got bored hanging around so after a few months went part-time.

Other jobs included welding for Saracen Engineers, Ponsharden Scrap Yard, Falmouth Docks and Davey & Jordan. Joe was a worker and if he wasn't busy enough he got bored, he was known to "walk out" when he had enough!

Joe met Jean at the Redruth Ambulance Hall dance. They were engaged for three years before getting married at Treleigh Church on May 1, 1954. They set up home at Trevenen Road in Helston and Joe started his own blacksmith business.

Stephen was born in 1961 and Joe was a very proud father. The family moved to Longdowns in 1966 when Stephen was five. He was about to start school and Joe established his blacksmith shop there.

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Jackie joined the family when she married Stephen in 1989 and Joe was never prouder than when his grandson Thomas Peran was born to them in 1994. He especially enjoyed his visits to the blacksmith's shop where Tom would put on his overalls to help out.

The cannons made by Joe that guard the entrance to Falmouth

Joe's lamps, gates and handrails can be spotted all over Cornwall, his cannons at Hillhead Roundabout, flower baskets in local parks as well as some work at Kew Gardens.

His lamps travelled as far as Germany. Joe used to draw his designs with a piece of chalk on the floor of the blacksmith shop.

He eventually retired at the age of 75 and they moved to Polsethow in Penryn where they spent a happy 15 years. They moved to Bosvean Gardens in Illogan in June 2016 to be nearer Jackie and Stephen.

The sudden death of Stephen in December 2018 was a huge shock to everyone. Jean passed away in March 2020, the start of the pandemic. Her funeral was on the first day of lockdown and Joe was unable to have any visitors just when he needed them.

Joe was devastated at losing his sister Mickey in July 2020. He moved to Tremethick Residential Home in Redruth on August 12.

Joe was able to celebrate his 97th birthday at the home and Jackie and Tom spent Christmas morning with Joe which was lovely. He has quickly deteriorated since then and his last two weeks were a real struggle. He died on January 14.

So far £600 has been raised for the British Heart Foundation.

Chief family mourners; Jackie Gainey (daughter in law) Tom and Natasha Gainey (grandson and wife) Paul and Jenny Gainey (brother and sister in law) Christine Jeeves, Fiona Barber, Nigel Dickens, Glenn & Paul French, Richard and Alison Lugg, Rachael Eggleton and Andrew Atkinson, Katie and Simon Roberts (Nieces, nephews and partners)