Mourners gathered at Southend crematorium to pay their final respects to a hero of the 1953 Canvey floods.

Strapping Frank Westoby, who stood over 6ft tall, single-handedly saved an entire family during the floods when he held up the ceiling of a collapsing bungalow to allow the family to escape.

Mr Westoby, known as Toby to his friends, received a commendation from the Queen for his actions, which also seriously injured his back.

He died aged 84 at his Whitehouse Meadows home in Leigh after suffering from cancer.

His brother in law Norman Rymer said he would always be remembered for what he had done, and also for his role in the electricity board, where he worked for 47 years.

"He was chief engineer for the electricity board, and he used to get all the lights for the Esplanade, and he got them from Blackpool and all kinds of places like that."

Mr Rymer added Mr Westoby was involved with helping a lot of people through his life.

He said: "He will be missed by a lot of people - during the war he was a major in the territorial army, in charge of the barracks in Eastwood. He also served in Norway and Gibraltar."

Mr Westoby leaves a widow, Doris, three sons, and a daughter.

Final journey - funeral of Frank Westoby

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

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