Staunton Parish Church was filled with family and friends for the service of celebration for the life of Charles Wilfred Lane (70), affectionately known as Charlie.

The service was conducted by Canon John Evans, who spoke of Charlie's many interests. He had served in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry for three years from the age of 18, and saw service in both Kenya and Suez.

He married in 1959 and lived in Corse, working in the aircraft industry. He was a real countryman and a keen fisherman, both salmon and fly-fishing, and had many stories to tell. He was a man of great courage and had spent the later years of his life in a wheelchair, and was cared for by his daughter, Hazel, and the district nurses.

Donations in memory of Charlie will be given to Staunton Surgery.

On Sunday, there will be a united benefice and Methodist service at St Margaret's Church, Corse at 10.30am.

Plans are well in hand for Staunton Church flower festival from May 26-29. The theme is Floral Rhapsody and there will be well over 30 floral displays and will feature Gloucestershire composers, musicians and poets. The flower festival is being organised by Jennifer Clayton, Margaret Barclay and Ursula Groves-Smith and all the organisations in Staunton and Corse are being represented.

The weekend will start with a wine and cheese preview in the church on Friday, May 26, from 7.30pm to 9pm. Over the weekend, there will be stalls and refreshments and, it is hoped, some garden open to the public.

On Sunday evening there will be a songs of praise service in the church.

On Monday, May 29, there will be a car boot sale in the field at The Swan Inn, by kind permission of Paul and Angela, from 9am to noon. Cars £5 and vans £7.50, entrance 20p.

All proceeds from the weekend to St James' Church Staunton. For further information, please contact Jennifer Clayton (840673), Margaret Barclay (840343) or Ursula Groves-Smith (840273).