Town criers from across the region turned out in full regalia at the funeral of their colleague Brian ‘Pluto’ Venn.

More than 100 people packed into Weston-super-Mare crematorium yesterday to bid a fond farewell to the 80-year-old, who died last month.

Town criers from South Gloucestershire, Dawlish, Axbridge, Nailsworth and Minchinhampton, Watchet and Trowbridge along with Weston mayor, Councillor Cyril King, walked alongside the hearse in a silent tribute to Mr Venn, known to many as Pluto.

The procession was led by the secretary of the Somerset and Avon branch of the British Korean Veterans Association, of which Mr Venn was a long standing member.

The coffin was adorned with a St George’s flag and on top sat Mr Venn’s town crier’s hat and bell.

As his coffin was taken into the crematorium, his fellow town criers paid a special tribute to him, announcing his arrival and ringing their bells to the cries of “Oh yez”.

It was standing-room only in the crematorium as tributes were paid to Mr Venn, who was described as one of life’s characters.

As he was brought in Frank Sinatra’s My Way played quietly in the background.

Mr Venn was born in Milton in 1931, the youngest of six brothers and five sisters.

He joined the Royal Navy when he was 17 and saw active service in the Korean War, serving as a stoker in the boiler room of HMS Ocean.

On returning to Weston in 1958, he became a postman, married Vivienne and had a daughter, Andrea.

Mr Venn was also a keen fisherman and was a member of the Weston-super-Mare Angling Association. His crowning glory was winning the Civil Service National.

He stopped work as a postman and became a signwriter until his retirement aged 60.

But it was then that his life took an unexpected turn when he signed up to become Weston-super-Mare’s town crier. Mr Venn became a regular sight at many charity and council events, dressed in his red suit and feathered hat with a large smile and equally large voice.

He took part in town crier competitions and in 1995 was crowned World Champion in Australia.

Mr Venn was one of only four Englishmen to win the title.

Paul Maltby, who led the service, said: “Those who saw him in and around Weston heard him well in advance of spotting the fairly small and brightly dressed man who was putting his heart and soul into his cries, whether it was on council business or for the many times he would promote charitable events.”

Mr Venn also worked as a toastmaster and master of ceremonies at the weddings of many local people before hanging up his tricorn hat at the age of 77 to care for Vivienne, who suffered with Parkinson’s. She died on November 12 and Mr Venn passed away weeks later, on December 31.

Friend Ken Lacey, who had known Mr Venn for 50 years, said: “Pluto loved Weston and he loved people.

“No one could ever describe Pluto as shy. He was a big man, with a big heart with an ever bigger voice.”