THE funeral of yachtsman Leslie Foulkes, who drowned off the coast of Alderney in the Channel Islands on April 10, was held in Crudwell last week.

The 54-year-old engineer from Crudwell was thrown overboard in a storm, and there was particular poignancy with the final hymn, Eternal Father Strong to Save, which includes the line 'for those in peril on the sea.'

Daniel Perchard, the yachtsman who was on his yacht with Mr Foulkes when disaster struck, described his friend's love of sailing as something which had cruelly turned on him.

He went on to tell the congregation about Mr Foulkes' character.

"He was one of life's warm people," he said.

He described Mr Foulkes as a punctual, educated man who was always happy to help people and was knowledgeable about a range of subjects.

The Rev Richard East who conducted the service talked about Mr Foulkes relationship with Sue Johnson, with whom he had planned to move to America.

"In 1999 he met Sue and it was a turning point in his life," he said.

"He put the sparkle in her eyes."

A collection was held in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

Mr Foulkes leaves sons Carl and Nathan, and sisters Norma and Carol.