Tri-Service
Call For Help As Royal Navy Veteran Dies With No-One To Attend Funeral
Veterans from across the service world have issued an appeal urging people to attend the funeral of John Simpson, a Royal Navy veteran who passed with no family.
Members of the Royal British Legion have called on people to attend the service who passed away in a Seaham care home on December 4 at the age of 82.
The charity has organised the attendance of various officials ahead of Monday's service at Durham Crematorium.
Derek Bland, who lives in Parkside in Seaham and is a committee member of the Northumbria branch of the legion, said:
“We want to be there so that we can remember what he did for our country."
“We want the word to be sent around."
“I took a phone call asking if I could help and I said of course. We will have standard bearers and will try and get as many legion members there as we can, as well as other veterans.”
Sheryl Goodfellow, manager of the home, said: “We know very little about him unfortunately.
“He got back from the war and then moved around and I don’t think he was a very well man.
“Jack loved Elvis and danced when he could. He lost his mobility, but he loved it when he came on at parties.
“He could let you know if he wanted something, he could express that, and he had a little twinkle in his eye. He was a lovely man.”
Monday’s service will be held at the crematorium, off the A177 South Durham Road, at 11am.
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