Mr Beeton, who had not been well for some time, passed away peacefully at West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, on April 6 . He was 79.

Born and living all his life in Soham, he leaves a brother and a sister who still live close to his home with their families.

After attending the Shade School in the town, he started work as a porter guard based at Soham Railway Station when he was 15 years old.

He was an employee at the time when a munitions train famously caught fire and exploded in 1944. He went on to work in the ticket office at Soham, issuing the last ticket before the station was closed in 1965.

He continued working on the railways in various roles before finishing his 50-year career in the booking office at Ely Station.

He was a keen vegetable gardener and also a frequent member of the congregation at the Methodist Church in Soham, but it was music that was his lifelong passion.

He began playing in brass bands alongside his father when he was eight years old. He played in many bands, including the Salvation Army, Soham Comrades and, more recently, the Wicken Band.

For almost 80 years he played in concerts and contests both locally and nationally, including once playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Many of his friends and fellow bandsmen joined to form the band that played at his funeral.

Salvation Army Captain Doug Askew, who conducted the funeral service, was also a personal friend. He was assisted by Captain Glenys Askew.

Mr Beeton was a devoted family man and is survived by his wife of almost 45 years, Jean. He leaves three children Angela, Neil and Dawn along with four grandchildren Josie, Alice, Isaac and Finlay.

Family mourners were: Mrs J Beeton, Mr and Mrs G Turner, Mr and Mrs N A Beeton (rep Isaac and Finlay Beeton), Miss D Beeton, Miss J Turner (Miss A Turner), Mr and Mrs T Beeton, Mr and Mrs J Donnellan, Mr and Mrs J Gilbey, Mr and Mrs H Palmer, Mr and Mrs G Beeton (Miss V Beeton), Mr C Fowler and Ms S Donnellan, Mrs T Harding (Miss S Harding), Mr G Gilbey, Mr and Mrs H Shepard, Mr R Trew, Mrs M Trew and Mrs L Chennells.

Other mourners: Don and Kitty Driver, Mrs J Jeffery, Rosemary Hills (Brian Hills), M K Rogers, Heather Ickeringill, Sylvia Greenaway, Mr Cooper, John Booth (Envoy Morag Rogers and Iris), Colin Watson, Ray Gordon, Bill Jeffery, Robert Peacock, Beryl Peacock, Arthur Badcock, Colin Smalley (Soham Band), Arthur Aves, Stephen Gilbey, Jamie Gilbey, Ian Gilbey, Mr K Pryke, Clement Tompsett, Bernard and Shirley Bavester, Sheila Badcock (Dawn, Colin and Philip and Mrs C Watson), Kath Turner (Mr and Mrs J Quigley and family), Samantha Drake, Cedric Palmer, Mr and Mrs Nineham, Jim King, Salvation Army Captain Doug Askew, Salvation Army Captain Glenys Askew, Anne Potter, Jack Mathews, George Ginn, Mrs Webb, Mr and Mrs C Beaumont, Mathew Ralph, Chloe French, Jennifer French, Katie Ashdon, John Woodroffe (Wicken Band), Laurence Finlayson (Wicken Band), Mr and Mrs W. R. Hilton, Mr and Mrs A. Hilton, Mrs A Webber, Betty Reeve (Bob Reeve), Gerald Gillett, Peter Cousins, Robin James (family and Rachel), Vera Seal, David Gilbey, Mr D Clark (Elizabeth, Richard, Jill and the Soham Band), Albert Peacock (Joan Peacock), Roy Wilson, Mr and Mrs Claude Parr, Mrs Denston (Mr Denston), Richard Angier, Tony Payton, David Funnell, Mr and Mrs B Howe, Jim and Joy Ames, Georgina Newell, Mr and Mrs P J Bignell, Derek Audus, Les Audus, Phillip Gammon, Peter Easey, Ada Easey, Brian Boggie, Mrs Burling, Caroline Ashdown, Judy, Tina, Trish, Anita Pergira, Nicholas Morton, Richard Archer, Margaret Autey, Sheila Palmer, Ruth Ginn (friends of Soham Methodist Church), Ian Human, Angela Johnson, Denis Gilbey, Ann and Sarah Willett and Mr and Mrs D Page.