The funeral of Phil Stroud, chairman of the Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion, took place yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, with a service at St Collen’s Church followed by committal at Pentrebychan.
Mr Stroud died aged 70 at home on May 5 after a short illness.
Originally from Manchester, he served for over 20 years in the army with the King's Regiment, and leaves his wife of 23 years Marie, children and grandchildren.
In his introduction to a moving service, in which Royal British Legion standard bearers led the funeral procession down the aisle, Father Lee Taylor spoke fondly of Mr Stroud who he said had been one of the first people to welcome him when he moved to the area just under five years ago.
Father Lee also praised his strong record of service to his country and later the Legion and recalled his sense of humour which he said had prevailed even through his illness.
In the eulogy, Mr Stroud’s Legion comrade David ‘Dai’ Thomas gave an account of his life, including how he joined the army in his late teens in 1972, serving through until the early 1990s when he left the army to begin a civilian job as a tanker driver.
After leaving the service he had become a mainstay of the Legion, serving as the local branch’s treasurer, then chairman and as a standard bearer.
He also involved himself with many aspects of the Legion’s welfare work with former armed forces personnel.
Later at the crematorium there was the sounding of the Last Post and a farewell song.
Donations were invited to the Legion’s Llangollen branch or the armed forces charity SSAFA.
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