Hundreds of people responded to the Chronicle's call on Facebook to give an RAF veteran the send-off he deserved.
More than 200 mourners of all ages from the military and civilian community united to say a heartwarming farewell to 83-year-old Keith Ingham Nutbrown, who spent most of his life in the Connah's Quay area.
Scores of people packed into Chester Crematorium to pay their respects to the man, who had served in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Standard-bearers lined the path leading to the crematorium building, while a fly-past of jets at 2pm provided a fitting tribute to Mr Nutbrown.
Servicemen from the RAF carried his coffin – draped with a British flag – into the crematorium for the funeral service.
Mr Nutbrown, who had been living in a care home in Llandudno, died in Ysbyty Gwynedd on December 16.
He was believed to have no known relatives and left only a shoebox of simple possessions, including his RAF serving card and photographs of steam trains.
Reverend Ray Billingsley, who took the service, alerted the RAF Association to the fact that Mr Nutbrown had no family. The association’s online appeal garnered more than 20,000 messages of support and was shared on the Chronicle's Facebook page. This led to the large turnout on Tuesday, January 20.
Rev Billingsley, from Flint, said: “I can’t thank you too much for taking the trouble to take time out of your busy week to come and pay tribute to this man.
“All of you are here and that matters an awful lot. He wasn’t a celebrity or a business tycoon, or a world leader or a diplomat.
“He was like most of us – an ordinary person who lived an ordinary life. Between us, we all believe ordinary people matter.”
Rev Billingsley said Mr Nutbrown enjoyed regular visits to the library and listening to classical music.
When living in Deeside, he used to take the time out to go shopping for his house-bound neighbours, travelling long distances on the bus to do so.
Mourners sang the hymns The King Of Love My Shepherd Is and Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer during the service, which ended with a poignant performance of the Last Post.
Rory O’Connor, director of welfare at the RAF Association, said they had managed to trace distant cousins of Mr Nutbrown, but they were unable to attend.
He said: “The appeal was hugely important and we’ve had an overwhelming response to it. It’s warming to see the recognition Mr Nutbrown is getting.”
Mourners were asked to provide donations to the RAF Association at the end of the service.
