HUNDREDS of mourners gathered at Accrington’s Masonic Hall to pay tribute to ‘inspirational’ war veteran, Warren Wolstencroft.

Warren served as part of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment before being diagnosed with rare form of bone cancer Epithelioid Sarcoma 12 years ago.

Many of his fellow servicemen attended the sorrowful ritual in full military uniform and moving tributes were paid by Major George Briscoe MBE and Freemason and family friend, David McGurty at the service.

Warren, 39, was described as a ‘loving father to four beautiful daughters’, Shelby, 18, Phoebe, 12, Bethany, 10 and Darcy, two and a ‘wonderful’ husband to Michelle. He underwent an arm amputation to combat his illness but the cancer returned and he was told it was terminal.

Warren spent time in East Lancashire hospice before passing away and had had the foresight to write his own eulogy.

In it, he described meeting Michelle in the Havelock Inn years earlier and wooing her with a rendition of a Robbie Williams song. Of his wife of four years he said: “I wish I’d have met her ages ago. She truly is my soulmate.”

Major Briscoe described Warren as an ‘enthusiastic member of the team with a great sense of humour’ and went on to say: “He always had a smile for everyone. I saw him right at the end and even in his final days, there was that smile.”

Warren selflessly decided to dedicate the time he had left to raising money to help others.

He organised many charity events including a football match at Blackburn Rovers Football club with David Dunn and Colin Hendry and raised thousands of pounds for BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Service Men’s Association) and the hospice. He also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro leading a team of Rovers’ fans.

To carry on his work, The Wooley Foundation charity has been set up in his honour.

It aims to empower cancer patients in the area and relieve them of the stress they face in day to day life.