A NEWPORT man described as a “true man of Pill” was buried after a procession through his home town.

A standard bearer and friends walked from the Waterloo Hotel on Alexandra Road to St Stephens Church, Pill, Newport, for the funeral of Dennis Calnon yesterday.

Mr Calnon, 75, died on July 19 after developing septicaemia and was buried at St Woolos cemetery following a funeral service.

Mr Calnon spent most of his working life on Newport docks, unloading ships and driving a forklift truck.

He served with the South Wales Borderers and the Parachute regiment in his late teens and early 20s and was also the Welsh ju-jitsu champion in the 1960s.

Mr Calnon was known throughout Newport as a breeder of Staffordshire bull terriers.

His wife, Yvonne, died five years ago.

He had three daughters, Helen, 54, Lynne, 52 and Sally, 39, as well as seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

His youngest daughter, Sally Wild said: “He was well known as a true man of Pill, he was a grafter, who did three jobs to be able to afford his first mortgage. Everyone knew him on the docks, where he was known as ‘The Sheriff’.”