St John's Church in Pewsey was packed for a service to celebrate the life of Colin Lampard, who was chairman of the parish council for 33 years and did so much in the village, he deserved the accolade of Mr Pewsey.

His funeral took place the previous week in the Methodist Church, where he had worshipped all his life and played a leading role.

Because of limited space in there, his wife Jackie agreed to use St John’s for the service to celebrate his life and work.

The packed congregation included people from local government and churches over a wide area, paying their respects to a man who, said the current parish council chairman Alex Carder, devoted his life to the village where he was born and brought up.

Mr Lampard served as a Wiltshire county councillor for some years before he concentrated his efforts on the parish council securing many assets for the village including the Angela Yeates Memorial sports field.

Coun Carder paid tribute to Mr Lampard’s council work; Terry Kemp and John Brewin hailed his dedication to Pewsey Area Community Trust of which he was chairman when he died.

Mr Lampard was a school governor and a trustee of the King Trust, which gives grants to school leavers and his work on those was recalled by Geoff Grindrod.

Carnival chairman Richard Giles commended Mr Lampard’s work for the village and his lifelong support for the carnival.

Methodist minister Susan Holden, who conducted the service jointly with the Rector of Pewsey, Hugh Hoskins, saluted Mr Lampard’s support for the church.