FAMILY, friends and civic leaders gathered at St Augustine's Church in Rodbourne to pay their last respects to Keith Small.

The borough and former county councillor for more than a decade died on Monday last week aged 60.

Fittingly, Mr Small's hearse was taken on one final journey from the Civic Offices in Euclid Street, through his beloved Rodbourne, via Jennings Street, the home he shared with his son, Swindon Labour leader, Kevin.

It was his son's idea for the funeral procession to take this route to give people a final chance to pay their respects.

Hundreds of mourners, including Swindon Council's chief executive Simon Birch, councillors from all three political parties and Swindon mayor, Derek Benfield, joined Mr Small's family and friends for the service, which was led by the Rt Rev Michael Doe, Bishop of Swindon. The service started with the hymn Guide Me O Thy Great Redeemer, before Coun Benfield read a personal eulogy to someone he described as a great friend. Mr Benfield recalled Keith's penchant for jam sandwiches while working as a maintenance fitter at the now decommissioned Princess Margaret Hospital, his love of attending the first day of cricket Test Matches at Lord's with Kevin and his dedication to the people of Rodbourne, a district in which he was born and bred.

The congregation sang Jerusalem and Abide With Me before the bishop read the commendation.

Mr Small's coffin was carried out of the church draped in a flag bearing the borough's coat or arms.

He was buried at Whitworth Road Cemetery before family and friends retired to Keith's favourite haunt, the Even Swindon Club in Percy Street. Mr Small, who represented Western ward for Labour, had suffered from a viral infection of the brain and died at the Great Western Hospital.

He had worked at PMH for 32-years before taking early retirement five years ago.

Mr Small also served on Wiltshire County Council, Thamesdown Council and then Swindon Council when it became a unitary authority in 1997.

Mr Small had held a cabinet position as lead member for transport and the environment a post he held in Labour's shadow cabinet after they lost control of the council to the Tories in May this year.

Although his son Kevin did not speak at the funeral service he said this week: "He will be very much missed, not just as a dad, but as my best friend."