FRIENDS and family of former Bexley mayor Ray Allen have said farewell at a funeral service.

The 86-year-old, who served on the council for 27 years, died on December 12 after an 18-month battle with lung cancer.

Local dignitaries attended the ceremony at Eltham Crematorium last Thursday, before moving on to a wake at the mayor's parlour in the civic offices.

Among those paying their respects were former mayors John Shepheard and John Eastaugh and current mayor Nigel Betts.

Archdeacon of Chislehurst, the Ven Paul Wright, an old friend of Mr Allen, conducted the service.

Mr Allen's son, Lee, described his father as a man who would go beyond the call of duty to help the local community.

The 36-year-old IT manager said: "On one occasion, when he heard of an old lady who was struggling to get her boiler fixed, he went round and did the work himself.

"He wanted to help people he felt didn't get recognition, despite being hard-working at the centre of the borough, so one morning he went out at 6am to go and visit the refuse collectors to give them some recognition.

"He did an awful lot of work."

Among his non-mayoral roles, Mr Allen was a governor of St Paulinus Primary School, Iron Mill Lane, Crayford, and president of the Bexley Club for the Disabled.

At the council he represented St Michael's, Erith, and latterly the Crayford ward.

He was mayor in 1994/95 and deputy the following year after the death of the serving deputy.

Mr Allen worked for the Daily Express as an electrical engineer until his retirement and also spent 27 years as a magistrate.

Mr Allen died at the Bexley and Greenwich Cottage Hospice.

Born in Sunderland in 1921, Mr Allen moved to London when he met his second wife, Kit, in Peckham in 1950.

As well as his wife, Mr Allen, of Epsom Close, Barnehurst, leaves five children, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.