PREPARATIONS are all in place for the funeral of Sir John Colfox in Symondsbury at 2.30pm this afternoon.

The village is expecting to see an enormous turnout for the popular and much-respected 90-year-old, who died at home on July 12, surrounded by his family.

Family members will be bearing his coffin from his home to the village church for the service, which will be relayed via giant screens to well-wishers who cannot fit into the church.

His sons Philip and Eddie will give the eulogy and the service will be taken by the Rev Jan Delaney.

There will be food and drink - including  beer brewed on the estate served in the tithe barn with wine from the Furleigh Estate - land once owned by the family.