A GUARD of honour was held in tribute to a Pershore stalwart today as he was bid farewell in his home town.

Standards were raised and Pershore Abbey was filled for the funeral of Ted Annis, who died on Monday, November 10, after a long battle with illness.

Best known as the chairman of the Pershore & District Royal Naval Association and a town councillor, the 77-year-old was a familiar face in the town before his sad death this month.

The former Royal Navy stoker and a marine engineer saw action during the Suez crisis in 1956 and was awarded the Suez Canal Zone medal and the Naval General Service Near East medal.

He went on to found the RNA and Naval Club in Pershore and was instrumental in raising thousands of pounds towards the creation of the club building and the Pershore Commemorative Garden.

At the service he was honoured by Alice Bull, head girl of Pershore High School as she played the Last Post and Ken Tallis, chairman of Pershore & District Branch RBL read the Exhortation.

The poem "Parting" by Charlotte Bronte was read by Mr Annis' eldest daughter Wendy Strettle and younger daughter Trudy Burge read "Crossing the Bar" by Lord Alfred Tennyson.

Mrs Burge added: "My mum Margaret, sister Wendy and I are both overwhelmed and humbled by the strength of love and support we have received from our community during this sad time.

"We have received over 200 cards of condolence along with hundreds of messages of support via social media and each one has brought us comfort.

"To see the Abbey so packed today was just breathtaking and you can't ask for more than that when your time comes.

"I loved my dad dearly and we worked well as a team over the past 15 years to raise so much money for local charities and commemorate the Armed Forces veterans and fallen in our town.

"Our proudest day was the opening of Pershore Commemorative Garden and it was somewhere that brought both of us peace and great joy to sit these past three years.

"It is ironically quite fitting that dad died during the Remembrance period because I love poppies and now each time I wear one, I shall think of my dad.

"Dad has struggled for so many years with ill health and other difficulties and now he's at peace.

"Neither of us are saints and we don't pretend to be but we have huge hearts and strong determination.

"I made a vow to him that I would continue his good work and that I will do to the best of my ability and health."