Memorial service to celebrate life of Great Yarmouth heritage champion Les Cole

Les, who lived in Gorleston and died suddenly last June aged 60, worked in the Norfolk Museums Service front of house team, greeting visitors and giving guided tours and talks at the Tolhouse, Time and Tide and Elizabethan Museums.

In his spare time, he was a long-standing volunteer at the Nelson Museum, holding the honorary roles of custodian of the Nelson Museum and Norfolk Naval Pillar. He also served for 17 years as a volunteer guide for the Guided Heritage Walks, even creating some of the walks himself.

The memorial service, which will take place in the Assembly Room, is organised by Kerry-Robinson Payne, the mayor of the Great Yarmouth borough, and will be led by the mayor's chaplain, Dusty Miller.

Several people who knew Les well will share their memories of him, including Cllr Robinson-Payne, Andrew Smith, of Time and Tide Museum, and Andrew Fakes, of Great Yarmouth Local History and Archaeological Society.

As well as readings and traditional hymns, there will also be musical tributes reflecting his interests, including The Yarmouth Song, These Are the Days of Our Lives by Queen, and On the Ball City.

Cllr Robinson-Payne said: "I knew Les well through my work at the Nelson Museum and he is sadly missed by a lot of people. An ambassador for the borough and a genuinely nice person, he had an incredible knowledge of Great Yarmouth's history and was passionate about sharing that with others.

"Like the many people whose lives he touched over the years, I was so saddened to hear of his sudden death last year. I thought it fitting to give the family time to start grieving before holding this public celebration of his life, which is an opportunity for everyone to recognise his significant contribution to the borough.

"Everyone is welcome and I hope to see lots of people there. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have helped to arrange this memorial service."