More than 200 people attended the cremation and thanksgiving service on Friday, February 22 for my husband, John Taylor.

My family and I would like to say a big thank you to the doctor at the Meadows Surgery and the ambulancemen, doctors and nurses at the Princess Royal Hospital for all they did for John and their sympathy and support towards the family.

Also to Radmalls Undertakers and the Reverend Andrew Fairchild for making the day run so smoothly.

At the Downs Crematorium, Paul Weston played The Old Rugged Cross on the flugelhorn, accompanied by the organist.

The Mid Sussex Brass Band (with friends) played for the thanksgiving service at the United Reformed Church, Junction Road, Burgess Hill.

So many people said to my son and myself, "I have never been to a service like that before." It was truly wonderful. John would have loved it.

Among the family mourners were friends from his footballing days, his school, Scouts, British Rail (where he worked), a banding friend from Sweden, Cyprus Hall Community Association, the Federation of Brass Banding, Southern Counties Amateur Brass Band Association, the Royal British Legion (who formed a guard of honour at the crematorium), representatives from Burgess Hill Town Council and Mid Sussex District Council, representatives from many other brass bands and, of course, my friends who provided the refreshments at the Cyprus Hall.

I and my family were overwhelmed with the sympathy, kindness and love they have shown to us. We cannot say thank you enough.

-Pam, Melvyn and Jane Taylor, Burgess Hill