TRIBUTES have poured in for The Rt Revd Bill Ind, 14th Bishop of Truro, who has died at the age of 84. His funeral is expected to be held in early May.

Bishop Bill led the diocese from 1997 until his retirement in 2008, when he said: “I have loved meeting people and just being with them… My own faith has been enriched, and I have gained all sorts of insights just by being here.”

Bishop Bill was ordained in 1966 and built up a formidable reputation as a pastor, with a keen sense of humour which never left him. The Rt Rev Tim Thornton, 15th Bishop of Truro, said: “His sense of fun and willingness to engage with everyone meant that he opened doors and windows and invited people to know more about God. He could be irreverent, direct and mischievous, and always did so in order to share with others the good news of the Gospel.”

He added: “When I arrived in Cornwall, I was told by many what big shoes I had to fill. I was aware of how loved Bishop Bill was right across the diocese; during his time, he was a champion for the people of Cornwall, speaking out for them in many places.”

In 2007, Bishop Bill was awarded the Trelawny Plate, an award given to those who have made “an outstanding contribution to Cornish life”. During his acceptance of the award, he made a speech apologising for the suppression of the 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion, stating: “In my opinion, there is no doubt that the English government behaved brutally and stupidly and killed many Cornish people… I am sorry about what happened and I think it was an enormous mistake.”

From confirmations to ordinations and even cricket matches, tributes flowed on our social media feeds.

To Aileen Gammon, he was “a breath of fresh air”, and to Danny Reed “a true leader for Cornwall”. David Musson described him as “a prayerful, clever man with a great sense of humour and approachable to everyone”, while Devon farmer James Morrish remembered him as “a Cornish gentleman in every way”.

Rev Olive Stevens, assistant Rural Dean of Trigg Major Deanery, had fond memories of the day Bishop Bill washed her feet during her ordination as deacon at Truro Cathedral in 2014. “He knelt at the feet of each of us and showed how to be good shepherds. Thank you, dear Bishop Bill.”

Some had seen him in the BBC series A Seaside Parish, which ran for three years in the early 2000s. Linda Hardwick said: “We watched it before we moved to Truro, thinking what a lovely man he was. He and his wife were very welcoming when we arrived, and there was always a touch of mischievous humour about him.”

Chris Dennis played in The Bishop of Truro's XI cricket team with him. “What a character he was - and he was a mean slow left arm bowler, too.”