A FAMILY touched by the generosity and support of the community will today lay their loved one to rest.

The funeral of Purbeck Isle skipper David McFarlane will take place this morning at 11.30am at Holy Trinity Church by Weymouth Town Bridge, followed by a private cremation service.

Afterwards family and friends will be gathering at the King’s Arms on the harbourside.

Meanwhile, donations have been pouring into the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund to support the families of the lost sailors.

Mr McFarlane, 35, along with crewmen Robert Prowse, 20, and Jack Craig, 22, went out fishing on May 17 in the Purbeck Isle but never returned.

Mr McFarlane’s body was discovered during a three-day search as was the wreck of the ship, about nine miles off Portland.

Mr Prowse and Mr Craig’s bodies have not been found.

Floral tributes now line the harbour wall next to the boat’s berth as the community pays its respects.

This has been combined with generous donations to the memorial fund, which was spearheaded by the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fishermen’s and Boatmen’s Association.

There are now more than 160 places across Dorset where people can donate including Matalan in Weymouth, where store manager Anne Souster said many of the staff knew Mr Prowse and Mr Craig.

Mrs Souster said she and the staff would like to pay tribute to the fishermen and added: “We only started collecting at 11am on Saturday and by 2.30pm it was full.”

She said people were feeling the effect of the tragedy because Weymouth and Portland is a tight-knit community. Mrs Souster said: “It’s the fact that it is a close knit community and the crew were well known. Our thoughts go out to their family and friends.”

To share fundraising ideas with fund organisers email purbeckislememorialfund@gmail.com or go to the Sailor’s Return in St Nicholas Street, Weymouth.

How you can make your cash donation