Salvation Army members form a guard of honour as Brian Pegg's funeral cortege makes its way up Church Street. Picture: KAREN BETHELL

Townsfolk turned out in force at Sheringham at the weekend to give their last salute to well-known Salvation Army bandsman Brian Pegg.

A band member gives the Salvation Army salute, as Brian Pegg's funeral cortege makes its way up Church Street. Picture: KAREN BETHELL

A packed citadel saw the former bandleader and coxswain’s coffin brought in to a rousing march, Under Two Flags, chosen by the family because it showed Mr Pegg’s service to the Army and the RNLI.

Later the cortege headed through town, where people lined the streets. It passed a double guard of honour by Salvation Army and lifeboat crew members outside the parish church.

After a private burial at the Weybourne Road cemetery, in a plot closest to the sea, mourners gathered at the Burlington Hotel to swap memories and write down anecdotes about a man whose service and good humour touched the lives of many.

Son Nigel said the tales included Mr Pegg asking a flustered policewoman on Sheringham carnival day duty directions to the harbour, and the time during his footballing days when he dropped a big crab in the post-match bath of the opposing team - of policemen.

Brian Pegg conducting the Sheringham Salvation Army band

Fisherman Brian Pegg, who was 81, served as a helper, crewman and eventually coxswain of the Sheringham lifeboat.

He played with the Salvation Army band from the age of 10 and was bandmaster for almost a decade. A staunch tee-totaller his nickname was Lemonader.

During his 40-year footballing career he played mainly for Sheringham but also had a spell with Cromer.

Son Nigel said his eulogy tried to sum up a many who excelled at everything he did. And the family was heartened by the “carnival like” sized crowds lining the streets.

At the guard of honour the Salvation Army members gave their finger-pointing heavenwards salute, while lifeboatmen doffed their caps.

Among the mourners was former Salvation Army major Sylvia Watts, who said when her husband Michael died in 2000, Mr Pegg arranged for the Mumbles lifeboat in Swansea to take Mrs Watts and her family out so that she could scatter his ashes at sea.

She added: “Brian was full of life, love and fun. He was an extremely caring man who would do good things quietly behind the scenes that people did not always see. For me, Brian was Sheringham - he loved the town and he wanted the best for the town and for the people in it.”

Sheringham lifeboat operations manager Brian Farrow said: “More than anything, Brian was an absolute character. He was a fisherman, a totally committed mechanic coxswain and a friend to everyone. If you had to choose someone to represent the RNLI, then you couldn’t pick a better man.”