Brighton pays final farewell to 'oldest gay in the village'

George Montague, an LGBTQ+ campaigner who had long been a popular and prominent presence at Brighton and Hove’s Pride parade, passed away last month aged 98 after a two-year battle with Alzheimer's.

The procession closely followed part of the Pride parade route, making its way along the Old Steine, past the Royal Pavilion and St Peter’s Church, on its way to the Downs Crematorium in Bear Road.

His hearse featured a range of colourful flowers, as well as the sign he carried on his wheelchair through the parades, saying “I’m the oldest gay in the village”.

A double-decker bus decked out in Pride colours followed behind the hearse, carrying those attending the service.

George's husband, Somchai Phukkai, told The Argus that he was “privileged to have been part of his life”.

The couple first met in 1997, entered into a civil partnership in 2006 and later got married at Brighton Town Hall in 2015.

Somchai said: “George was a very loving, caring person; a husband, father and grandfather.

“He spent his entire life helping others and he campaigned tirelessly for the acceptance and equality of gay rights.

“He was principled and fought for what he believed to be right, even to the detriment of himself.”

George Montague and his husband Somchai: credit - Chris Jepson

Somchai said that George had been determined to live to the age of 100, but “sadly that was not to be, despite my very best efforts to help him achieve that milestone”.

He said: “Every time I kissed him during this final year, he would say ‘Thank you for loving me, I’m so lucky to have you.’

“I love and miss him dearly, and he will be missed by all of us.”

The LGBTQ+ community in the city, along with Argus readers, paid tribute to George, with Pride organisers describing him as a “tireless campaigner” and said: “We’ll certainly be waving the rainbow flag for him and won’t forget him.”

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

He said: “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.”