FAREWELL EDDIE

Around 100 people turned out yesterday to mourn the passing of Mr Franklin, 50, of Weymouth, who died after being trapped in the wheelhouse of his boat Blue Sonata when it suddenly sank off the White Nothe last month.

After the service at Holy Trinity Church, a flotilla of six boats including RNLI lifeboat Ernest and Mabel and the inshore lifeboat sailed out into Weymouth Bay.

As dusk fell, family members and close friends held a short ceremony, scattering rose petals in memory of the fisherman. Canon Richard Franklin conducted the memorial service, where the seafaring hymn Will Your Anchor Hold was sung.

He read a poem, Blue Sonata, penned by one of Mr Franklin's close friends and also played one of the fisherman's favourite songs, Close To You by The Carpenters.

Rev Franklin said: "We are saying farewell to someone who was very well loved and thank God for his life and all the good things in it."

The memorial was organised by Eddie Franklin's good friends Paul and Mandy Cox, licensees of Ma Bakers pub.

Mrs Cox, who brought two white doves to be set free by Mr Franklin's brother Les, said: "Eddie was a special person, more family than a friend to us.

"It's fitting we sent him off in Weymouth Lifeboat - he called it the 'big orange taxi' and was close to crew members. Special thanks go to Tanya Gilly for her help in organising this."

Mr Franklin's funeral was held in Oxford but his sister Ann Hoyle, her mother, two brothers and cousin travelled to Weymouth to join tributes paid by his Dorset friends.

Mrs Hoyle said: "We are overwhelmed by the number of people who are here - thank you to everyone for the messages of sympathy and support, the number of people who attended his funeral and the donations, which will be divided between the lifeboat and coastguards.

"Thanks also to Paul and Mandy Cox for arranging this day."

After the send-off, a buffet was held at Ma Bakers where people enjoyed a 'short walk' - Mr Franklin's name for his favourite drink Bacardi and Coke.