HUNDREDS of mourners packed into a church to say an emotional farewell to a popular grandfather, car dealer and member of the travelling community.

Elijah Ward died peacefully at his Darlington home earlier this month, surrounded by his family.

There was standing room only at the town’s St Cuthbert’s Church, where it is estimated that more than 500 family and friends gathered to pay their respects to Mr Ward.

The 71-year-old’s nephew, Billy Welch, a leading member of the travelling community, described Mr Ward as a “placid, quiet man” who was well-respected in all areas of society.

Mr Welch said: “I was very close to my Uncle Elijah.

“He was not just very, very well known among the Gypsy and travelling community, but also among the settled community.

“His funeral was a perfect illustration of just how wellliked he was.”

As a young man, Mr Ward set up the Coburg Motors dealership, in Darlington, with his brothers, Sunny, Davy and Robert.

Mr Welch added: “Many people in the town will have had dealings with him at one time or another.

“To be a successful car dealer, you need the respect of others in your business and he had that. People liked him and people trusted him.

“He was a very placid, quiet man; I never knew him to have an argument with anybody.

“He was a very familyorientated man – his life was his wife, his children and his grandchildren.”

As well as being one of four brothers, Mr Ward leaves his wife, Janie, and children Annie, Mary, Violet and Elijah.

Mr Ward Jr spoke movingly about his father at the funeral, said Mr Welch.

Despite his quiet nature, Mr Ward enjoyed a sing-song at family functions and events, said Mr Welch.

He said: “All Uncle Elijah wanted to do was sing. He was a very good singer and the only problem we ever had from him was getting the microphone off him at parties.”

Mr Ward’s musical tastes was evident at his funeral, with Al Martino’s I’m in the Mood for Love among the songs played.

Following the service, he was buried at Darlington’s West Cemetery.