IT was standing room only as hundreds of mourners gathered to say goodbye to Colchester mayor Peter Crowe who died of cancer at the age of 72.

Annie Davidson

IT was standing room only as hundreds of mourners gathered to say goodbye to Colchester mayor Peter Crowe who died of cancer at the age of 72.

St Mary the Virgin Church in Kelvedon was full for his funeral today with around 100 people listening to the service outside the church on loud speakers.

The funeral was led by the Rev Dr Chris Garland and included the hymns The Lord's My Shepherd and Jerusalem.

Mr Crowe's son Charles read the poem Baggy Point while the eulogy was given by fellow Tory Kevin Bentley, who remembered his colleague as “wonderful, caring, funny and extraordinary.”

Mr Crowe represented Birch and Winstree wards on Colchester Borough Council and was elected mayor of Colchester in May which had been a life-long ambition. He died on September 15 after a battle with cancer.