Hundreds of mourners flocked to pay respects to ‘inspiring’ sailor and businessman Robert Shaw – the only man with motor neurone disease to sail the Atlantic in the biggest ocean-crossing event in the world.

Chelford chartered surveyor Robert, who died at the age of 61, attracted the attention of TV crews last year when he navigated his team on a 57ft Bobato yacht in the annual Atlantic Rally Crossing (ARC).

He could not speak and had to be fed through a tube in his stomach because of the debilitating muscle-wasting disease, which took hold in 2007. But the dad of three completed the challenge which his wife Jean, 56, said ‘kept him going’ and which ‘he was determined to do before he died’.

Robert died at East Cheshire Hospice on April 29 and more than 400 friends, relatives and colleagues attended his funeral at St Philip’s and St James Church, Alderley Edge, on May 6.

Jean, of Mere Court, Chelford, who was married to Robert for 25 years, said: “Robert was inspiring and courageous.

“He couldn’t speak or eat when he did the race across the Atlantic, and movement in his hands and upper body was limited.

“He was as independent as he could be, but with the rolling seas he couldn’t hold the syringe to feed himself, so he needed the help of his team.

“The disease was at an advanced stage, but Robert was determined to finish the race. I think it kept him going. It was the fulfilment of a dream, he was over the moon.”

Sheffield-born Robert, who had one daughter and two sons, was founder of Guest Shaw chartered surveyors in Manchester, and set up property company Castlewood Developments, based in Alderley Edge.

He and Jean, also a chartered surveyor, met at a cocktail party in London, married at St Philip’s and St James Church, and lived most of their married life in Alderley Edge.

Robert had a passion for classic cars and rallied Austin Healeys all over Europe in the 80s.

He became ill in 2007 and was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in July 2008. He deteriorated quickly after the ARC and spent the last week of his life at East Cheshire Hospice.

Jean added: “We had over 400 people at his funeral. Robert was very well-known, a larger than life character.

“Everyone who came to visit when he was ill said how inspiring he was. He was always very supportive of the children and their activities, they have been fantastic, something like this brings you together as a family. Robert was a great dad.”