The daughter of an Upton community stalwart was travelling to her father’s funeral when she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

Hundreds of people travelled from all over the globe to pay their respects and share their memories of Reggie Bedford, aged 66, who tragically died following a short battle with cancer on October 28.

The funeral of Reggie Bedford, Upton A.A and Upton Y.C stalwart took place at the packed out The Holy Ascension Church in Upton

But as the mourners said their goodbyes to the grandfather-of-three, who dedicated his life to the community, young people and football, a new bundle of joy was coming into the world for the first time.

Reggie’s daughter Jessica Jenkins was not due to give birth for another two weeks, but as she was preparing to attend her father’s funeral service at Holy Ascension Church in Church Lane on Tuesday (November 11) her waters broke.

Despite the contractions, the 35-year-old, who lives in Portsmouth, was determined to attend her father’s funeral – which saw former members of Upton Youth Club travel from as far as Iraq to pay tribute to a ‘legend’ and share stories about the way he had changed and influenced their lives.

But on the way to Blacon Crematorium following the church service, the contractions became more frequent and Jessica and her husband Adam had to get out of the car in heavy traffic and dash across the road to the nearby Countess of Chester Hospital.

Little baby Seth was born weighing 6lb 8.5oz at the Countess at 8.52pm.

Her brother Adam said: “She was in labour when she attended the funeral. He was two weeks early, it is bizarre how he came into the world.

“It is weird how it all happened, you couldn’t write it. He is happy and healthy.

“They always say ‘one in, one out’.”

The police closed the road as more than 400 people attended the funeral of the community stalwart, who was heavily involved in Upton Athletics Association Football Club (AAFC) and Upton Youth Club almost up to the day he died.

Adam, 39, added that the ceremony was a ‘great send-off’ for his father, and that he had been overwhelmed by the number of messages he had received paying tribute to his dad.