Mr Brindle, who was known as Bill, died at Newmarket Hospital on May 27 after an illness of five years. He was 71.

Born in Hull, he went straight into racing at Beverley after leaving Charterhouse High at 14 and, apart from two years' National Service in the late 1950s after which he came to Newmarket, he was to spend more than 50 years in the racing industry.

During his career he worked for trainer Jack Clayton at Bedford Cottage stables, Sir Jack Jarvis and Ron Sheather at Park Lodge and Charles St George at Sefton Lodge.

Three years ago he was awarded a special tribute of a Lifetime in Racing award.

During 1950/51 he was a schoolboy boxing champion.

He was also interested in shepherding and occasionally travelled to Scotland to assist with lambing and attended numerous sheepdog trials. He kept border collies as pets.

Mr Brindle is survived by his wife, Yvonne, and leaves two sons, Hadyn and Wayne, a daughter, Alison, and seven grandchildren, Nathan, Kirstie, Kieran, Jude, Ella, Elliott and Liam.

The service was taken by the Rev John Hardy and the organist was Mark Rodman.

Family mourners were: Yvonne Brindle (widow), Hadyn Lyell and Teresa Robertson, Nathan Lyell, Alison Roffey (ref Kirstie and Kieran), and Andy Mott (Aaron), Wayne Lyell (Jude) and Donna Tebbutt, Ella Tebbutt, Joanne and Paul Marison (Elliott and Liam), Angela and Barry Coverdale, Jenna Coverdale (Samantha), Andrew Coverdale, Wayne Dearing (Lynn) and Ron Smith.

Other mourners were: Janet Neville, Alison Palmer, Gerry Carroll, John and Ann Grainger (Tony Holloway), Joe and Ruby Taylor, Ted Jackson, Alfie Westwood (Mr and Mrs W Musson and Howard Moss), Maureen Howes, Colin and Kim Timmins, Yvonne King, George and Rusty Boggie (Tanya Clifford), Jason Hindle (Lisa, Isla and Bayley), Diana and Tony Mills (David and Jack Ringer), Jim Woolf and Diane Robertshaw (Waitrose), Tina Jolly (Carol May), Trish Farris (Gianpiero), Sue Clarke (Matthew and Rebecca), Jane Glavin, Madelaine Cook, Jill O'Neill (Bev and Charlie McBride and John and Wendy Godfrey), Ann and Wally Lowsby (Richard Datson), John Darwin, Jan Mitchell, Reg Poutney, Mary and Selwyn Beeton, Tony Taylor (Eileen Taylor), Jim Kennedy (Josh, Phil, Vanda and Emma Sturch), Alan Norris (Pamela Norris), Diana Doyle (Tony Doyle), Mavis Hickling, Jill and Charlie Tidball, George Witt, Eileen Foxton, Avril and Geordie Beckett, Sharon Clements (family),Wally and Vera Markham, Roger and Wendy Mott, Sue and Phil Chambers (Claire and Richard Willett), Juliette and Michelle Priestley, Rosa and Bernard Gray, Rita Cowing (Julie and Steve), Geordie Inglis (D W Morris), Keith Bovill (Racing Welfare), Madeline Chitty (Gihan Arnoloa), Pat McGee, Rose Blasberry (Jackie Blasberry and Charlie Woods), Mr and Mrs Ken Roberts, Boppa Bright (Sue Bright), Ernie Bray, Barry and Eileen Foley, Mary Roberts, Mr and Mrs Adrian Grainger (Adam, Keith Day and Ivy Cole), Marilyn and Joe Hindle (June and Bob Andrews), Audrey and Ron Sheather, Margaret Kilbey, Smiler Smith, Vincent Murray, Mick Carty, Brian Heslop (Thelma Heslop), Ella Syson-Nibbs, Danielle MacDonald, Dave Murray, Alan Dempster, Kate Daly, Barbara and Henry Turney, Tanya Cesare, Ron and Ann Dunning (Mr and Mrs J Buckle), Fran and Jean Briggs (Graham and Margaret Day), Charles Guest, Charles Mooney, John Powney, Johnny Redpath, Steve Kingstree, John Berry, Sam Huggan, Claire Goodenough (Tony and Fiona McGlone), Rachel Preen (Paul), Colin, Glyn and Kevin Moore (Karen Bye), G Wake (Mr Wharf, Jacky and Jenny), John Hazlewood (Lynn and family), Maria Harris, Danny Masterson (Tony and Karen Cromby), Joe Brown, Ray Blasberry (Mary Camps), Jean Bucknell and Dave Goodwin, Tony and Sue McCarthy (Joanne and Tom), Gill Dolman, Mrs B Chapman, Mr and Mrs M Winter, David and Alison Lowrie, Dick Speck, Bryan and Pauline Wood, Michael Tebbutt, David Papworth, Natasha Goody, Brigitte Heard (Rossdale and Partners) and Teresa Dalkin (Mr and Mrs Sheff Wilson, Peter Close, Jackie Poole, Jenny Keane, Glen French and Ladbrokes).