TAUNTON Deane Crematorium was packed on Friday morning for the funeral of the former Mayor of Wellington Bob Bowrah who has died at the age of 74.

Mr Bowrah, who lost his fight against cancer, was a town councillor since 1999 and a Taunton Deane councillor since 2003, representing Wellington West and Rockwell Green.

He was chairman of the town council from 2004-06, Mayor of Wellington in 2016-17 and Mayor of Taunton Deane in 2009-10.

He was on Wellington Town Council emergency planning committee and was chairman of Taunton Deane planning committee.

Mr Bowrah, who served in the Army for 27 years, was a member of the Tenants Services Management Board, representing council house tenants, and Metro Champion and Wellington Monument Champion for Wellington.

He was Taunton Deane’s representative on the board of directors of Taunton Bowling Club, a member of the Basins Volunteer Group and treasurer of the local sea angling club.

Mr Bowrah was married to Elizabeth for 50 years, and had three children, Joanne, Nick and Andrew, and four grandchildren.