IN PICTURES: Funeral a bostin' farewell for Bert Turner

Bert Turner was laid to rest yesterday at a packed service at Bilston's St Leonard's Church, with friends and family members drawn to reminisce about one of the town's true champions.

Mourners lined the streets yesterday while family, friends, MPs and councillors packed into St Leonard's Church to say their farewells to a man who was 'Bilston and Bradley through and through'.

Mr Turner, who served as councillor for Bilston East for 25 years and was a former Mayor of Wolverhampton, died earlier this month aged 78 following an illness.

Among his many achievements Mr Turner was Wolverhampton's mayor, a local councillor for a quarter of a century, a tireless campaigner who fought to save Bilston Steelworks and a long-standing school governor.

Councillor Turner was the brother of Dennis Turner, who went on to be MP for Wolverhampton South East and later Lord Bilston before his death last year.

He will also be remembered as a loving friend, father, grandfather and great grandfather who always wore his heart on his sleeve.

His nephew Brendon Turner, aged 37, from Bilston said: "He was always a great role model. Certain things defined him. He was a Black Country man through and through and would not change for anyone.

"He was passionate and stood by his beliefs. He was a leader and a doer. We will all be worse off without him."

Fellow Bilston councillor Stephen Simkins said the community had lost 'a father figure'.

Mr Turner grew up in Bradley and was on the books at Wolves as a youngster. He was elected as a councillor for Bilston East in 1990 and served as the city's mayor in 2011/12.

He was chairman of governors at Wilkinson Primary School in Walter Road, Bradley, for 43 years, and when it was destroyed by arson he was instrumental in arranging temporary classrooms for youngsters so they would not miss out on their education.

A stand at Bilston Town Football Club's Queen Street ground is named after the Turner brothers, Dennis and Bert.

His daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren had all attended the school.

Among those who paid tribute to Mr Turner was Wolverhampton council leader Councillor Roger Lawrence.

Addressing the congregation at the service, he described Mr Turner as 'not just a good colleague, but a good bloke'.

"He always gave good strong advice and would often give me an assessment of how I was doing as a councillor," Mr Lawrence added.

"The highest praise you got was 'you're doing alright', but when he said that you knew things were going ok.

"He was respected across all sides of the chamber and by the officers at the council."

Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden described Mr Turner as a passionate man who always made sure that the voices of the people of Bilston were heard.

"His was a life of service to improve the conditions of the place that he loved," said Mr McFadden.

"Bert argued passionately for the identity of Bilston and Bradley.

"He was part of a great partnership with Dennis, or 'our kid' as he called him. It was hard to think of them as separate as they worked together on so many causes. He will be greatly missed."

Closing the service the Reverend Raphael Duckett said: "People sometimes say the Bert's proudest moment was when he became mayor. But I know this was not true. He was proudest of his family and their achievements."

Councillor Turner is survived by his wife, Kath, a daughter, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Thomas Herbert Turner was born on January 1, 1937 and died on October 6, 2015, aged 78.