On Friday, September 8 hundreds of people gathered at the Prince Albert in Rodborough for the funeral of beloved pub legend Graham Stephens – better known as ‘Beaver’.

He passed away peacefully aged 59 on August 31, with his family around him, after being diagnosed with cancer.

His former partner Lotte Lyster wrote a heartfelt account of the day for the SNJ.

THE Prince Albert opened early on Friday for the funeral of former landlord Graham 'Beaver' Stephens which was held at 2pm and lasted well over an hour.

There was a queue forming well before the pub opened for friends, former customers and family to pay respects in this most extraordinary of ceremonies.

As hundreds gathered and were treated to a free pint of ale, courtesy of Stroud and Uley Brewery, some of Beaver's favourite jazz standards were played by Dave Ayre, Matt Hopkins and Rob Pemberton.

Leading the service was very old friend and former landlord of the Centre Bar in Cheltenham, the Hat and Feather and also the Bell in Bath.

Ian has spent the last few years setting up kitchens in Calais and working with refugees, he now operates as a One Spirit Inter Faith Minister and was the perfect person to head the proceedings.

Tributes were made, including a hilarious one by old school friend Dawn Wear to a soundtrack of America's 'Horse With No Name'.

He recalled of a holiday that had gone badly wrong when the large group of school friends had discovered the Blue Anchor pub in Helston.

There were some touching words of Beaver and his part in the restoration of Stroud in the 70's from county councillor Eva Ward before the microphone was put out to the congregation for some funny tales and memories from Carly Taylor, Pomme Van Drie, Tom DeBrabant, as well as Mary Holditch who explained what it was like to work with the sometimes crotchety crossword fanatic on a Sunday lunchtime.

The words 'grumpy', 'stubborn' and 'cantankerous' were used a few times but also the passion and love that he had for music, especially reggae, and that he was never happier than in a field at a festival with a beer in his hand listening to live music.

As the last post was played by former bar maid and friend of the family, Kate Adams, the casket was carried out by some of his children and friends into the waiting hearse with a deafening round of applause.

Funeral director Michael Gamble then walked in front of the procession down Rodborough Hill, literally bringing the surrounding area to a standstill.

Beaver's legacy will live on in the amount of bar-staff he has trained over the years, from pouring a decent pint to cellar management, and also the music tapes and records he has shared and many games of crib in many pubs in the Stroud district.

He leaves behind four children and many friends.