HUNDREDS of people attended the funeral of Monmouth's mayor, Councillor Jeff Smith, on Saturday.

Councillor Smith, a former police sergeant, died at the age of 53 after a long battle with cancer.

St Mary's Church, Monmouth, was full, with many people standing at the back, to hear the service conducted by the vicar of Monmouth the Rev Richard Pain, and the service was relayed to people outside by loudspeakers.

The mourners were led by his widow Ceris and their two small children, six-year-old Mivvy (Myfanwy) and eight-month-old son Pyrs.

There were few dry eyes when Councillor Smith's Gwent Police colleague PC Gwyn Redman paid a moving tribute to him, for he had served as a member of Gwent Police for 27 years until his early retirement when he was working as a sergeant in Monmouth.

He recalled how Councillor Smith had been a traditional, old-fashioned policeman who always insisted the night shift officers checked every door and window in the town centre.

And he recalled his bravery on many occasions, including two incidents in 1986 and 1987 when he was commended for his actions by the Chief Constable.

Deputy Chief Constable Brian Davies headed a large contingent of police officers, some of them now retired, who came to pay their last respects to the popular man who was forced to retire because of ill-health.

When he moved to Monmouth after serving in various parts of Gwent, he fell in love with the town and dedicated the rest of his life to the community.

After his retirement he joined Monmouth town council and was involved in many local charities. He was installed as mayor last May and had always vowed that one day he would place the town's wreath on the cenotaph in memory of his son Graham who was killed in an accident while on army exercises in Kenya in January 1991, just before the Gulf War started.

To do this he had to leave his hospital bed and on November 10, despite the pain he was suffering from bone cancer, he finally laid the town's wreath. Nineteen days later he died at Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital, his long battle over.

The hymns chosen for his final farewell were Jerusalem, Calon Lan and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, and a moving tribute was paid by teenager Amy Evans who had written a poem about Councillor Smith entitled He Made Me Smile.

His coffin was carried from his home to the church by eight of his police colleagues, and then after the service the cortege travelled to Dingestow Church where he was buried alongside other members of his family.

At the end of the service sheet his widow had written this final message of parting: "I have the sweetness of memory to carry me through times of pain."