Family 'moved' by funeral turnout for WW2 veteran

Representatives of the armed forces turned up to pay their respects to Ron Banks

A family who put out an appeal for mourners to attend the funeral of a World War Two veteran have said they are "overwhelmed" by how many representatives of the armed forces turned up to pay their respects.

Ron Banks, a Royal Navy veteran from Warrington, died last month in Preston, aged 99.

He was only expected to have 10 mourners at Preston Crematorium in the days before Remembrance weekend - a time when he always attended special services.

His nephew, Jonathan Tinning, said the kind and humble uncle who used to "slip me a fiver" would have been "very moved by this turnout".

Ron Banks, a Royal Navy veteran from Warrington, died last month in Preston aged 99

Born in Warrington in 1925, Mr Banks joined the Royal Navy at 17 and served as a anti-aircraft gunner on the HMS Glory.

He was on the ship when Japanese officers signed a document of surrender on 2 September 1945, his niece Sara Singleton said.

She said his time in the Navy had sparked his love of travel, which he continued to do into his 80s with his wife Vera, who died in 2016.

Jonathan Tinning remembered a "kind and humble" uncle

Veterans of The Armed Forces members raised their standards as the hearse arrived at the crematorium on a bitterly cold day.

Holding back tears Mr Banks' sister, Brenda Tinning, 83, said: "I am overwhelmed - he would have been so proud.

"We are so grateful as a family that people have turned out," she said.

Stuart Dagger headed to the service after a night shift

Serving sailor petty officer Andy O'Donnell, who saw the appeal on social media, said: "I am based in Loughborough but was home on leave and thought I had to come and pay my respects."

Stuart Dagger, standard bearer for the Preston branch of the Royal Air Force Association, worked a night shift until 07:00 GMT before heading to the service.

"This is what it is all about," he said.

"Gentlemen like this fought for our freedom and must be remembered, especially this weekend."