Inspirational, decent and honest. These were among the many tributes paid to Robin Burgess in a memorial service at Carlisle Cathedral yesterday.

Robin, the former chief executive of Cumberland News and News & Star publisher CN Group, died from cancer on February 22 at his Scaleby home. He was 68.

A private funeral was held at Scaleby last month.

Yesterday was a chance for the community he served to say its goodbyes, pay tributes and share memories.

The hundreds who packed the cathedral included many CN employees, past and present.

Others in attendance included broadcaster John Myers, Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young, Carlisle City Council leader Colin Glover and Cumbria’s High Sherriff Marcia Fotheringham.

Many people had travelled hundreds of miles to be there.

As well as his work in journalism, Robin was a force in local charities.

He was president of Cumbria Deaf Association.

Having experienced partial hearing loss, he had personal understanding of the importance of the association’s work.

Two rows of seats were reserved for deaf people, with the words of the speakers signed for them.

Robin’s brother-in-law, Tim Cartmell, spoke of Robin’s time in the army, which included a spell in Northern Ireland.

Being tall - 6ft 5ins - meant he could out-drink his fellow officers. It also meant he was a big target.

Robin, he said, would laugh until tears ran down his face. He would dry them with a red spotted hanky. “In short,” Tim concluded, “he was a very good bloke.”

Charles Brims, a former director of Cumbrian Newspapers, spoke of Robin’s integrity and honesty.

“He cared passionately about his newspapers, the people who worked for him and the communities they served.”

Former editor Keith Sutton praised Robin’s modesty, leadership and capacity for hard work.

He also admired Robin for standing up for his staff when faced with legal action by a wealthy individual; a battle which was won.

Robin’s wife Alex, to whom he was married for 32 years, was there with their children, Rose, Kate, Rachel and James.

Rose and Rachel gave moving readings.

The Rt Revd John Richardson said: “Robin showed that a simple faith and a generous heart can become inspirational.”

Robin was chairman of the Lake District Calvert Trust, which challenges disability through outdoor adventure, and a trustee of Carlisle Cathedral Development Trust. A collection was held to be divided between the two.