Funeral for veteran from Darwen who will be 'missed by many'

Stephen Francis Potter died on December 29, 2023, aged 75.

He was born on November 5, 1948, and had been a member of Blackburn with Darwen's Royal British Legion for many years.

He had previously organised many poppy appeals in the borough, including at Darwen Market Hall and Sainsbury's in 2017.

Pleasington Cemetery Chapel, on Tower Road, was filled with mourners, including the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Cllr Parwaiz Akhtar, this afternoon, to pay their respects to Stephen and share their memories.

Royal British Legion chairman for Darwen, Simon Charnley, said: "Losing someone is never easy, but Stephen was a friend as well as a colleague in the legion and he will be missed by many."

Memories of Stephen, his wife, children and grandchildren were shared, including their holidays to Mexico, Slovakia and Spain, and the times when Stephen became a coach driver.

Stephen was an Earcroft town councillor and ex-leader of the 'For Darwen Party', launched in 2007 and set up by businessman and former LibDem Tony Melia.

The party was said to be 'instrumental' in the setting up of Darwen Town Council.

Stephen Potter, right.

It also helped to oust the Labour-led Blackburn with Darwen Council when it entered into a coalition with the Conservatives and LibDems to take control.

A guard of honour from local cadets was given to Stephen, as well as the playing of The Last Post.

Each mourner laid a yellow rose at Stephen's coffin, adorned with his RAF hat and Union flag, to say goodbye.

As Stephen was a fan of Millwall Football Club, Roy Green's 'Let 'Em Come' was played, as well as Queen's 'A Kind of Magic'.

The family requested people make charitable donations to Cancer Research UK or Royal British Legion (Darwen branch) instead of flowers.