Tearful family and friends packed a church to say a final farewell to a Southend solicitor who was married in the same building just three weeks before.

Many mourners had to stand at St Peter and St Paul's in Church Road, Hockley, because so many turned out to pay their last respects to 33-year-old James Benjamin.

James, a dad to two children, died on his honeymoon in Majorca. He drowned on a beach despite being very fit and healthy.

The ceremony was held at the same church where he married Sally Benjamin.

Father Richard Seabrook said: "Many of you will remember that three weeks ago we were here in very different circumstances and in far happier times.

"There is always a feeling of terrible loss when someone with so much potential and with such a promising life is taken away from us."

Published Monday August 19, 2002

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