'Beautiful' send-off planned for a much-loved seafarer (From Stroud News and Journal)

'Beautiful' send-off planned for a much-loved seafarer

FORMER sailor Eric Partlett died this week at the age of 67 - and friends and family are determined to give him grand seafarers send-off.

As a wide-eyed young man, Mr Partlett joined the Merchant Navy and learned his trade on the Vindicatrix, a ship permanently docked in Sharpness, near Gloucester between 1939 and 1966 for training young recruits.

And two years ago the sea-lover, who lived in Chalford with his wife Pearl, joined the Gloucester branch of the TS Vindicatrix Association.

The group regularly meets to rekindle memories of their young naval days and to make contact with former friends and shipmates.

"He was a fantastic man, everybody loved him and we always had a laugh and a joke," said group secretary, Keith Osbourn.

"We have four members who will be pallbearers and we are trying to give him a beautiful send-off.

"And he will have the red ensign as flown on all Merchant Navy ships on his coffin, which I believe is a first for this county."

The funeral is at 2pm tomorrow, Thursday, at the St John the Baptist Church, France Lynch.