Friends and relatives of former bandleader Roy Affleck did the conga on the lawn of Worthing Crematorium at his funeral.

Earlier they had dispensed with hymns in favour of a non-religious service featuring jazz songs, including Stranger On The Shore, which was recorded at Roy's final concert at the Assembly Hall in Worthing in 1977.

There were more smiles than tears at yesterday's service, which recalled 90-year-old Roy's life as both a musician and a newspaper reporter.

The guests included singer Shirley Western, from Littlehampton, who fronted Roy's showband before taking it over on his retirement.

On top of Roy's coffin was a saxophone and of the two wreaths, one was decorated with musical notes while on the other lay a copy of The Guardian newspaper.

The service was held at Small Dole Free Church, near Henfield.

Roy started his career in journalism as a reporter in Swindon but two years after meeting his wife Hilda in Felixstowe in 1936, the couple moved to London.

During the Second World War, Roy became a firefighter serving in the East End of London and later joined the Shoreham Herald before moving onto the Worthing Herald, the West Sussex Gazette and Radio Brighton, while still pursuing a parallel musical career.

Roy, who lived in Brittany Road, Worthing, died in Worthing Hospital.

He leaves Hilda, three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.