Appeal for members of the public to attend Shrewsbury funeral of veteran with no family

David McLaren Kerr, 90, of Plas Cae Crwn Residential Home in Newtown, died on September 7 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

His funeral is due to be held at Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury on Tuesday at 1.15pm.

Mr McLaren Kerr was the husband of the late Nancy and father of the late Maryanne, and served in the Royal Marines.

Richard Parkes, director at Leach & Son Funeral Directors, said he contacted the Royal British Legion last week when he realised there would be very few people or even no one attending the funeral.

He said: "There are a number of people attending the funeral and they aren't family, they are people who had working relationships with Mr McLaren Kerr.

Proud

"We know he was a member of the Royal Marines many years ago and that was something he was very proud of.

"We approached the Royal British Legion locally to see if they would be interested in coming and they have said they will be sending members."

He added: "It is unusual for funerals to have nobody in attendance, if we know there is going to be nobody we try sometimes to work out who to make contact with.

"Mr McLaren Kerr wanted a funeral similar to his wife's, with hymns and readings, quite traditional."

Kevin Dempsey, chairman of the Shrewsbury branch of the Royal British Legion, said he will be attending the funeral.

"On Saturday I had a message about Mr McLaren Kerr, I've decided I'm going to his funeral and a few others I know are also going," he added.

"It's terrible that he has no family to go, particularly on the centenary of the end of the First World War.

"It's quite sad really for a veteran to be cremated without some support from others.

"But the veterans are a family of our own really."