Hundreds pay their respects to Felpham councillor

The service was a testament to the popularity of Mr Stainton.

His wife, Elaine Stainton, said: "Alan was very well thought of. Those who gave the readings at the service spoke to everyone and he had time for everyone. He was such a good councillor and he loved being a councillor."

Mr Stainton passed away on December 12 at St Wilfrid's Hospice at Chichester aged 61. He had spent the final two weeks at the hospice after battling for more than a year against a very rare form of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma variety of cancer.

"He fought so hard and tried everything to stay with us a bit longer," Mrs Stainton, said. She and her husband celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary three months ago.

Mr Stainton had been an Arun councillor for 13-and-a-half years. He was elected to the district council's Felpham West ward in May 1995. His recent roles at the council included being vice-chairman of its policy development scrutiny committee and a member of its local joint staff panel and its audit committee.

Previously, Mr Stainton had been the chairman of three important committees '“ performance and audit, best value scrutiny and corporate scrutiny '“ since 2000. He also spent several years this century representing Felpham on the county council.

Away from the council, he worked as a project manager for a flight simulation firm. He played a major role in training British flight crews for the Gulf War in 1990.

His key job was recognised by the British government when he became one of just three civilians to be awarded the Gulf War Medal.

His work took him around the world until he retired seven years ago. He was a founder member of Bognor RFC and also loved fishing and boats. He is survived by Mrs Stainton, two children and four grandchildren.

* A collection at the funeral service will be added to the 1,500 for St Richard's Hospital which his daughter, Adriana Bennett, and grandson, Joseph, raised by taking part in this year's Great South Run.

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