This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgxn41v40eo

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Plea to community to attend WW2 veteran's funeral Plea to community to attend WW2 veteran's funeral
(31 minutes later)
Ron Banks's family has made a public call for people to attend his funeralRon Banks's family has made a public call for people to attend his funeral
The family of a World War Two veteran is calling on the community to attend his funeral after he passed away aged 99.The family of a World War Two veteran is calling on the community to attend his funeral after he passed away aged 99.
Ron Banks, a Royal Navy veteran from Warrington, passed away last month in Preston, with his funeral due to be held on Friday.Ron Banks, a Royal Navy veteran from Warrington, passed away last month in Preston, with his funeral due to be held on Friday.
His niece, Sara Singleton, who cared for Mr Banks until his death, said less than 10 attendees were expected to attend her uncle's funeral service. His niece, Sara Singleton, who cared for Mr Banks until his death, said less than 10 attendees were expected at her uncle's funeral service.
Mrs Singleton said she wanted to give others - especially fellow veterans - the opportunity to pay tribute to him, adding: "They might not know Ron, but there's so few people who served in WW2 who are still alive and we just owe a debt to them."Mrs Singleton said she wanted to give others - especially fellow veterans - the opportunity to pay tribute to him, adding: "They might not know Ron, but there's so few people who served in WW2 who are still alive and we just owe a debt to them."
'We'll tell his story''We'll tell his story'
Born in Warrington in 1925, Mr Banks joined the Royal Navy at 17 and served as a anti-aircraft gunner on the HMS Glory.Born in Warrington in 1925, Mr Banks joined the Royal Navy at 17 and served as a anti-aircraft gunner on the HMS Glory.
He was on the ship when Japanese officers signed a document of surrender on 2 September 1945, Mrs Singleton said.He was on the ship when Japanese officers signed a document of surrender on 2 September 1945, Mrs Singleton said.
She said his time in the Navy had sparked his love of travel, which he continued to do into his 80s with his wife Vera, who died in 2016.She said his time in the Navy had sparked his love of travel, which he continued to do into his 80s with his wife Vera, who died in 2016.
His travels included returning to places he had seen during the war, including Hiroshima after the detonation of the atomic bomb.His travels included returning to places he had seen during the war, including Hiroshima after the detonation of the atomic bomb.
"He was amazed at how the Japanese had rebuilt their city," she added."He was amazed at how the Japanese had rebuilt their city," she added.
"The only place he told us he’d not been is Russia.""The only place he told us he’d not been is Russia."
Mrs Singleton said she wanted to ensure Mr Banks's story lived on, with him not having any children of his own.Mrs Singleton said she wanted to ensure Mr Banks's story lived on, with him not having any children of his own.
She added: "We'll continue to tell his story. If you don't share it, it goes with them."She added: "We'll continue to tell his story. If you don't share it, it goes with them."
Mr Banks (middle) joined the Royal Navy at 17Mr Banks (middle) joined the Royal Navy at 17
'Overwhelmed''Overwhelmed'
In planning Mr Banks's funeral, Mrs Singleton said it was "poignant" that it would be held in the days before Remembrance weekend - a time when Mr Banks always attended special services.In planning Mr Banks's funeral, Mrs Singleton said it was "poignant" that it would be held in the days before Remembrance weekend - a time when Mr Banks always attended special services.
"He used to put his medals on and take the wreath down the front of the church," she recalled."He used to put his medals on and take the wreath down the front of the church," she recalled.
With the help of the Royal Naval Association, the family has put a callout on Facebook, external for people to attend his funeral service, which will be held on Friday.With the help of the Royal Naval Association, the family has put a callout on Facebook, external for people to attend his funeral service, which will be held on Friday.
"We were just overwhelmed by [the response], looking at the comments on Facebook.""We were just overwhelmed by [the response], looking at the comments on Facebook."
She said she felt privileged to have been able to help the "fiercely independent" Mr Banks in his final years, doing things like bringing him groceries and washing.She said she felt privileged to have been able to help the "fiercely independent" Mr Banks in his final years, doing things like bringing him groceries and washing.
"He used to say 'I’ll be forever in your debt' and I thought, 'no, it’s the other way around'.""He used to say 'I’ll be forever in your debt' and I thought, 'no, it’s the other way around'."
The funeral is being held on Friday at 11:15 to 12:15 GMT at Preston Crematorium.The funeral is being held on Friday at 11:15 to 12:15 GMT at Preston Crematorium.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk, external and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk, external and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.