SCORES of people attended a funeral service in Tadley this morning to pay their respects to one of the victims of the Tunisia terror attack.

David Thompson, of The Green, Tadley, was among the 30 Britons who lost their lives in the mass shooting at the Tunisian beach resort of Sousse last month.

The 80-year-old, who was on holiday with his long-term partner Anne Kear, died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Around 80 friends and family, as well as the chairman of Tadley Town Council, Cllr David Leeks, attended his funeral, which was led by Reverend Richard Harlow, at St Paul’s Church in Tadley this morning.

His coffin was carried into the church to Conquest of Paradise by Andre Rieu.

Mr Thompson was born in Croydon in 1935 and he later moved to Tadley where he worked as an atomist scientist at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

He met his long-term partner Anne a few years after the death of his wife, Marjorie, and they enjoyed 17 memorable years together.

The 80-year-old took part in a number of physical hobbies including dancing, volleyball and running.

Rev Richard Harlow said: “We’ve gathered here today to say goodbye to David. The events of his death have thrown a long shadow over this community, but they deserve no more publicity, because that merely serves the purposes of those who took David’s life, alongside 37 other holiday makers in Tunisia, three weeks ago.”

During the service, mourners sang a number of hymns including Abide With Me and Amazing Grace and reflected on his life with personal tributes read out by David’s niece Gill and his friend Rod.

They said: “David was not only a great dancer but also quite a fitness fanatic. Every day he ran – until his knees gave out, and he took to power walking.

“In his younger days, he had played rugby a lot, and in his later years took up beach volleyball. For a man of 80 years, he could easily have passed for much younger, such was his state of health.”

They added: “There are no words that can soften either the manner or suddenness of David’s death. We are all left speechless by such evil.

“In the end our best response can be prayer. We give thanks to God for David, for his life, his love and his kindness.

"We give thanks for the years that we had him for. And in this way, we treasure the man he was and the memories he leaves behind.

“And last of all we pray that the kind of perverse and amoral thinking that led to David’s death will be rooted out by a deeper understanding of God: that no God or cause justifies the killing of innocent holiday makers.”

Following the service, Mr Thompson’s coffin was carried out to Smile Though Your Heart is Breaking by Andre Rieu and he was followed by his close friends and family.