THE FUNERAL for a campaigner known as the ‘oldest gay in the village’ will take place next month.

George Montague, a prominent and popular presence at Brighton and Hove’s annual Pride parades, died on Friday at the age of 98.

In recent years, Mr Montague had been campaigning to have his conviction for gross indecency expunged before he died.

After the government announced earlier this year that a pardons scheme would be extended to any conviction imposed due to consensual homosexual activity, Mr Montague said he was “very happy” by the decision.

Tributes have continued to come in following his death last week, with Hove MP Peter Kyle saying he always looked forward to seeing him at the city’s Pride celebrations.

He said: “George was full of character and brilliant stories. Despite the many challenges he faced early in life as law and society denied him the freedom to be himself, he always remained positive and cheerful when talking about the injustices he suffered.

“He’ll be missed by so many but his legacy will live on.”

LGBTQ+ charity MindOut said that Mr Montague’s brightly-coloured scooter was “an inspiration to us all to be out and proud”, and described him as a “great role model for us across all ages.”

Mr Montague’s funeral will take place at The Downs Crematorium in Bear Road, Brighton on April 11.

Speaking to The Argus in 2013, Mr Montague said he was grateful to have lived long enough to see society become more tolerant of LGBTQ+ people.

“I spent my early years ashamed of being gay and terrified of being found out and, as the climate has changed, now I want to shout it from the rooftops.”