A born and bred Falmouth boy who went on to become a Cornish MP for more than 22 years has died.

William David Mudd, who was always known by his middle name, died early yesterday morning aged 86.

His family said that he passed away after several months of ill health and leaves behind him his wife Diana, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Born in Falmouth to an acclaimed maritime family - his grandfather Captain Edward Rooney was one of the relief captains of the Cutty Sark, sailing her back from Portugal on her last voyage to Falmouth - David remained a patriotic Cornishman all his life and was proud to be a Cornish Bard, as well as a circuit Methodist lay preacher.

He was known for bringing lots of jokes into his preaching and loved the old chapels and communities within, with a fondness for attending the annual 'tea treats'.

His daughter Felicity said one of her father's favourite things to do was drive around Falmouth's Castle Drive, stopping to look down on the docks and eat a pasty on one of the benches there.

At Christmas he loved the Docks choir singing in Market Street and always cried when he heard them sing Deep Harmony.

He enjoyed chairing male voice choir concerts and a pinnacle of this was chairing the six yearly Festival of Cornish Male Voice choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in 1994, which his family described as one of the highlights of his life.

Falmouth Packet:

David Mudd during his time as MP for Falmouth and Camborne

David attended Truro Cathedral School before starting a career in journalism. In January 1953 he joined the Western Morning News as a junior reporter in Barnstaple.

One of his favourite anecdotes, which he was particularly proud to recount, was how he had been sacked by the newspaper not once but twice.

He also spent a short time working as a stage manager in ballrooms throughout the UK and as a tour manager with the Eric Winston band.

He served his National Service on merchant ships as a purser - the person responsible for the handling of money on board - with Union Castle lines, sailing between the UK and South Africa.

While visiting South Africa he was introduced to the BBC and ventured into radio broadcasting.

However, he always had a strong interest in local politics and in 1959 he was elected to Tavistock Urban Council, which he served until 1961 when the lure of television saw him temporarily give up politics.

With the launch of independent television franchises, David joined the newly formed Westward TV based in Plymouth, as a newsreader and reporter.

He could not stay away from his passion for politics forever though, and in 1970 he was elected as MP for the Falmouth and Camborne constituency - a role he remained in for the next 22 years.

In 1992, after winning six General Elections in his home constituency, he decided to stand down and retire, being succeeded by Sebastian Coe.

During the 1970s he remained an active member of Mebyon Kernow.

David used his free time writing books: 15 historical, one children’s book and one fiction.

He took great pleasure in travelling the world as a guest lecturer with Saga cruises, for which he was accompanied by his wife Diana.

In latter years he lived in Tavistock with Diana and died at Derriford Hospital.

Felicity said: "As a family we we are overwhelmed by the number of tributes pouring in for David.

"Although he had his public face, and loved being an MP, he was a humble and very sensitive man and probably not many people saw that.

"He was almost fanatical about helping people and would always go the extra mile.

"He was very proud of his family, and a very loving grandfather and great grandfather.

"He loved animals and was very kind to people especially if they were ill or disadvantaged.

"He had a wicked sense of humour and was a fantastic actor, and he could tell Cornish stories in a rich and rolling Cornish accent."