Surprised and delighted audience members listened in spellbound silence last Wednesday as a previously unheard recording of Porthleven's adopted son Guy Gibson rang out for the first time in England.

The unexpected treat came during a public showing of a film made by port businessman Vic Strike, to mark 63rd anniversary of the death of Wing Commander Guy Gibson, whose mother was from Porthleven and who died during a bombing raid during the Second World War, in 1944.

Attending the event at a packed Public Hall was Richard Hughes, acquisitions officer from the Imperial War Museum sound archive who had also worked for the BBC for many years.

He had travelled to Porthleven especially for the showing, as he already had a one-minute long recording of Mr Gibson speaking in 1943. However, unbeknown to the audience or even Mr Strike himself, Mr Hughes had also tracked down an 11-minute 48-second long recording of Mr Gibson talking to John Burton interviewing him about his wartime service with the RAF, taken on November 4, 1943.

The Public Hall was in complete silence as the audience listened to Mr Gibson's voice. Mr Hughes kept his find a secret, so that it would be played for the first time in England during the special evening.

Mr Strike said: "It was absolutely brilliant. There were 150 people in the hall and you could hear a pin drop. It absolutely captivated the audience and everybody was so touched and so pleased to hear Guy Gibson's voice."

His film, titled "Guy Gibson VC and the Porthleven he loved," tells how Guy's father came to Porthleven for a holiday. He worked for the British Embassy in India with the Forestry Commission and while on holiday he met his future wife, Leonora Strike. They were married in Porthleven Wesleyan Chapel in December 1913, then they went to India, where Guy was born.

It progresses to Guy's schooldays, staying with his grandparents at Parc-an-Cairne, Breage Side, Porthleven for his school holidays and later while on leave from the RAF.

Amongst the audience were two of Guy's cousins, Sarah Fowels and Charlotte Jackson, as well as Diana Adams, a life time admirer of Mr Gibson and the work of Bomber Command.

The evening was compered by Martin Matthews, former curator of the Helston Folk Museum and local historian who also narrated Vic's film. It was a friendly and relaxed evening with many ex RAF personnel, including the RAF Association, with their Standard draped beneath the screen.

The evening ended with hot pasties made especially by Horse and Jockey Bakery, with tea for everyone.

Earlier that day, a memorial service had taken place at Porthleven's cemetery, at the headstone placed in memory of Mr Gibson.

Standard bearers from the Helston branch of the Royal Air Force Association and the Helston Royal British Legion stood at the grave, together with air cadets. Wreaths were also laid in his memory.

A service is held every year in Porthleven to commemorate his death, as well as in Steenbergen, Holland, where his plane went down.

The services were first started by the late Michael Gale, former Helston town mayor and Alderman, who served on Helston Borough Council for the Porthleven ward. Two years ago the organisation of the service was taken over by the Helston branch of the Royal Air Force Association.