Over 400 strangers turn out for funeral of war hero after appeals for people to show up

THE FUNERAL OF a British soldier who fought the Japanese in Burma during World War II has attracted over 400 strangers.

Appeals had been made by Tony Budgett, whose uncle Tom Bryan had just two living family members.

Budgett asked on Facebook for people in the Stockport area to show up to the funeral to honour his uncle.

“I would ask you all to kindly forward this to anyone you know who may be ex-services or who may be local to Stockport and could attend his funeral to pay their respects to a man that was deeply changed by his experiences during the war.

“It would be very sad for there to only be a couple of people to say farewell to this loyal servant of crown and country.”

The funeral today attracted 400 people, 100 times what had been expected.

During the service, Budgett told mourners that he felt he was “among friends” and “truly humbled” by the turnout.

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