THE funeral of a former trumpeter with the Joe Loss band and Airsprung worker for 37 years will be held today.

Mr Charles Francis Berrelly, from Trowbridge, died on Thursday at the age of 86 after a long illness.

Mr Berrelly was born in Lambeth, London, in 1919, the eldest of nine children.

In his early years he was a keen trumpeter and played with local groups as well as the famed Joe Loss jazz band.

During the Second World War he served with the London Rifle Brigade in Europe and the Middle East.

His family were evacuated to Whitley, near Melksham, during the war years and it was there he met his future wife Amelia.

The couple married in 1948 and went on to have four sons, Raymond, Michael, Graham and Peter.

The pair, who lived together in Trowbridge for 51 years before Mr Berrelly moved to the Avon Park Care Centre in Winsley two years ago, also have five grandsons and one great-grandson.

Mr Berrelly spent most of his working life with Chapman's Bedding Company, now Airsprung Beds, in Trowbridge.

He organised an annual Christmas party for the children of workers at the firm and also started a firm's fire brigade after managing to get hold of an old fire engine.

After retiring at 65, Mr Berrelly had more time to enjoy his hobby of snooker and he was also a keen model maker and DIY enthusiast.

His funeral service was held at West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington. Donations in his memory can be made for the Avon Park Care Centre through Arthur Mays funeral directors, Westbury.