Bury town centre came together today, Wednesday, to celebrate the life of Lieutenant Colonel Eric Davidson MBE.
Hundreds of his family, friends and colleagues gathered at Bury Parish Church for Eric's funeral service, which began at noon.
Colonel Eric died on Thursday, May 12 aged 84 after suffering with cancer.
Mounted police and a police range rover led the hearse to the church gates while onlookers watched respectfully in silence.
The service was led by Reverend Julian Heaton, the Rector of Bury.
It was attended by Bury North MP James Daly, Cllr Russell Bernstein and other Bury councillors who were among those paying their respects.
Many members of the service attended in their armed forces uniforms and police uniforms.
Pipe Sgt Andrew Hay of the Scots Guards Association Pipe Band played as part of the procession into and out of the church.
In his eulogy, former colleague and friend Mike Kelly relived Colonel Eric’s life and career as an accident prevention officer for Bury police, a member of the Regimental Council in Lancashire, the founder and president of the Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Lancashire) and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant in 2002.
In June 2008, he was made an MBE and an Honorary Freeman of Bury in 2015 on his return from Turkey, where he had been with the civic party to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Fusiliers’ landing at Gallipoli.
Kelly said that Colonel Eric was "a man who lived and loved life".
Colonel Brian Gorski MBE, a trustee of Bury Fusiliers Museum, deputy lieutenant and friend of Colonel Eric also reflected on his career and charitable life.
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Band Lancashire and Corps of Drums were part of the days proceedings playing the hymns and solo musical pieces throughout the service.
When the service was over, Colonel Eric’s coffin was borne out of the parish church and back into the hearse to the sound of bagpipes and drums.
Many onlookers gathered outside to share their fond memories of Colonel Eric and offer their last respects.
The procession left the church at 1.30pm to go onto East Lancashire Crematorium in Radcliffe.
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