THE community joined forces on Tuesday afternoon to pay their respects to a 93-year-old war veteran.

Ken Crossley who lived in Leigh all his life before moving to Lovers Lane in Atherton four years ago, served in the Royal Artillery as a driver for the medium guns in the Second World War.

He then served as a gunner in the Normandy landings.

Ken’s army career took him to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany before he was posted to India at the end of the war.

As Ken did not have many family members who are alive, with some of them ill or disabled, armed forced charity Shoulder to Soldier invited members of the community to attend his funeral, which took place at St Joseph’s RC Church in Leigh at 2pm.

Despite the bitter, rainy weather, around 100 people attended the Chapel Street church service before mourners made their way to Leigh Cemetery.

Inside the church, Ken’s long-term friend Paul Dainton read an eulogy of Ken’s life, which mentioned he worked as a delivery driver after returning from the war.

Paul talked about Ken’s love of his portable campervan that he travelled around in and how he liked to remodel cars.

He also made light of a windmill Ken built which he said residents joked it “could power Howe Bridge”.

He had six brothers and one sister, who have all died. Ken never had any children after losing three wives to illness but acted as a father figure to his stepchildren in his third marriage.

Concluding his speech at the church, Paul said: “Ken will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all those who are here today.”

Ken’s niece Gill Crossley then followed with a short poem before thanking everyone for their attendance.

Leading the service, which contained a selection of hymns, church deacon Dennis Vint noted that although the veterans in attendance did not know Ken he could sense the “brotherhood that exists between comrades” as they paid their respects.

Gracie Field’s Wish Me Luck As You Wave Goodbye was chosen as the exit music song.

Members of the Royal British Legion and the Royal Artillery Association wore their uniforms and carried standards as Ken’s coffin was carried out to the funeral car.

At the cemetery, a bugler performed as the funeral party gathered around Ken’s resting place.

Speaking after the funeral, Ken's nephew Steven Crossley said: "We wish to thank you for all your help arranging for Ken to have the very best of send offs.

"The remaining members of Kens family were moved beyond words at the turn out of all the members of the armed services, each and everyone of them are heroes in our eyes.

"I wish there had been more time so that we could have got to speak in depth to them all.

"The bugler moved us beyond tears, such a fitting tribute to our very own hero.

"Also the members of the community that came, what generous spirited people they are."