Dozens attend funeral of BBC Radio Solent listener

John Martin was born in Essex and had been an accountant before retiring to Weymouth

The funeral of a local radio listener who sent a thank you card to his favourite station after his death has taken place in Dorset.

John Martin from Weymouth, a regular caller to BBC Radio Solent's Breakfast in Dorset show, arranged for the card to be sent to the broadcast team.

After learning the 83-year-old had no relatives, presenter Steve Harris asked listeners to pay their respects.

Dozens responded by attending the funeral at Weymouth Crematorium.

Fr Jeremy Brading, rector of Chickerell and Fleet, told the congregation Mr Martin was born in Essex and had been an accountant before retiring to Weymouth 20 years ago.

He kept a "meticulously organised" collection of stamps, postcards and coins and wanted to make sure his matters were in the same orderly state when he died.

Dozens of people attended the funeral of "John from Weymouth" who had no relatives

"John from Weymouth" was a regular listener to the Breakfast in Dorset programme

John Martin attended outside broadcasts and often sent cards to the radio team

Show presenter Mr Harris, who gave the eulogy, said Mr Martin was part of the Solent radio "family" and had always been "warm, kind and generous to a fault".

"I would often think of him and how interested he would be in an item, when considering whether or not to include it in our show," he told mourners.

"Just as we meant a lot to him. He meant a lot to us."

After the service, Donald Ramsey, who lived in the same sheltered housing block as Mr Martin, said he was a "very quiet man" and "excellent at quizzes".

"Whenever we had a quiz night, he won," he said.

Solent listener Trish Brown said: "The service was absolutely lovely. I didn't know John but I heard Steve on the radio and I thought it would terrible if no-one turned up."

Carole Caple, who also heard John's story on the radio, said it should encourage others to reach out and make friends.

She said: "Share your life and your generosity. I think we have missed out in not knowing John."

Mr Harris said the team had been "saddened but incredibly moved" to receive the card.

Reading it on air, he said "John from Weymouth" was known as a regular listener to the show and he had initially assumed John was writing to wish the show a happy sixth birthday.

A spokesman for Mustoe Shorter solicitors in Dorchester confirmed their client, John Martin, had instructed them to send the card in the event of his death.

The spokesman said Mr Martin, died on 26 June and had no surviving relatives.