Mourner appeal for Beeston veteran's funeral

Alex McDougall never married and had lived in Nottinghamshire since he was 21

Staff at a care home in Nottinghamshire are appealing for people to attend the funeral of a former soldier who had no known family or close friends.

Alex McDougall, 77, died earlier this month at the Beeston Fields Care Home, where staff described him as "popular".

Mr McDougall moved to the county's Chetwynd Barracks from Scotland when he joined the Army at the age of 21.

Carers are inviting anyone with connections to the Army or Glasgow Rangers to attend Friday's funeral.

Mr McDougall, a huge Rangers fan, spent 18 years at the home and died from cancer.

Staff said the Army and football were Mr McDougall's "whole world"

"He was just a good guy," said Aisha Morrell from the home.

"He was the most well known, certainly the loudest, character in the building.

"Everybody had a soft spot for him."

She said Mr McDougall, who had dementia, had no known family and friends and she feared only a limited number of staff would be at his funeral in Bramcote on Friday.

She appealed for anyone who would like to pay their respects to come along.

"Here we were his family. He didn't get visitors," she said.

"Two or three of us there [at the funeral] doesn't seem like any way to mark such a remarkable man's life.

"I'd just like him to know he will be missed and we value him. It's important to mark that."

Rangers FC is expected to send a floral wreath to the funeral service in the Reflection Chapel at Bramcote Crematorium, which is being held from 15.45 BST.