TRIBUTES have been paid to the “talented and kind” founder of Wimborne Folk Festival.

Brian Bisp, who was 79, died last Friday after a short illness.

Thousands of people are now drawn to Wimborne each year for the colourful folk event, now lasting three days.

But the festival was first held for one day at the end of August in 1980 with just eight dance teams.

John Whelan, a friend of Mr Bisp’s for many years, said: “I first met Brian in the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

“He felt it would be fitting to put on a show in the streets around Wimborne to celebrate. He borrowed about £200 from the Wimborne Royal British Legion, as he was a treasurer there, and put on that show. From then on, it evolved into the folk festival.”

The first festival coincided with the demise of the Christchurch Folk Festival, which at that point had been running for 13 years.

Mr Whelan said: “Over the years, the festival got bigger and bigger.

“More and more people wanted to be a part of it, and that’s all down to Brian.”

Even after Mr Bisp suffered a stroke more than a decade ago, which left him confined to a wheelchair, he continued to lead the summer festivities wearing his decorated hats.

“He used to lead the parade in his electric wheelchair – he was an absolute menace in that,” said Mr Whelan.

Mr Bisp and his wife Maria, together with Linda and Les Wild, retired from organising the festival in 2012, and the event was relaunched as the Wimborne Minster Folk Festival during the same year.

Outside of folk music and dancing, Mr Bisp’s great passion was building models of miniature armoured vehicles.

“That was his real hobby,” said Mr Whelan.

“He had an interest in military vehicles. He would make incredibly skilled, detailed models out of cardboard, and his house was festooned with them. They were absolutely wonderful.”

In addition to Maria, Brian leaves a son.

His funeral date has yet to be announced.