Holy Trinity Church in Bungay was overflowing last Friday for the funeral service for John Remblance.

Eastern Daily Press: John Remblance as Bungay fire service sub-officer.John Remblance as Bungay fire service sub-officer. (Image: Terry Reeve)

Mr Remblance, 79, was sub-officer of the Bungay fire brigade for three years at the end of the 1980s and 1990s, and his coffin was borne by four Bungay firefighters.

He was also a long-standing member of Bungay British Legion Club, and the Bungay RBL standard and the group RBL standard, as well as the fire service standard, were paraded at the service, which was attended by nearly 400 people.

A family tribute, read by the Rev Ian Byrne, who took the service, outlined his life and included many amusing anecdotes of a man who was described as a loving and generous family man and a popular, respected colleague in the fire service. There were also tributes from granddaughter Kirstie Remblance and one of his grandsons, 12-year-old Alfie. The tributes reflected the life of a man who always put family and friends before himself.

Born in 1937 in Denton, Mr Remblance worked for much of his life at the former Edgar Watts timber yard in Bungay, joining the business on leaving school at 15. He worked on preparing willow clefts for the making of cricket bats, and also worked away for some time on felling willow trees throughout East Anglia and beyond. He ended as manager of the yard, situated in Southend Road.

When the business closed in the early 1990s, Mr Remblance set up his own felling and cleft making business, based in Earsham, and ran it until he retired in 2006.

In 1970 he joined the Bungay Fire brigade, then based in Lower Olland Street, and was a member of the retained team for 20 years, and sub-officer in charge form 1987-90.

Later on he joined the Royal British Legion Club in Bungay, serving a spell on its committee.

His interests included football as a keen supporter of Ipswich Town, snooker, bowls, and horse racing.

He leaves his wife, Cicely, sons Lee and Gavin and their wives Sonia and Mandy, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Following the service, burial took place in the churchyard at All Saints Church, Mettingham.