Mourners turned out in their hundreds to pay tribute and celebrate the life of a former Lord Mayor of Bradford.

Councillors, including the current Lord Mayor, police officers, friends and relatives were among the many who gathered today at St Barnabas Church, Heaton, to say their farewells to 80-year-old Stanley King, who died in hospital after a short illness earlier this month.

One of Mr King’s great passions and areas of expertise was in trolleybuses, two of which stood outside the church as he would have wanted.

He was also a published expert on buses and trams in Bradford and Keighley.

Councillor Valerie Binney, who attended the funeral said: “I have known Stanley for 38 years since he’s been on the Council. He was a really fantastic person as well as a councillor.

“When I nominated Stanley as Lord Mayor I described him as a king among men, and that he was.

“He gave some lovely speeches he had such a witty and dry sense of humour. He had a lot of similarities with the author Charles Dickens.

“He was also a very olde worlde person he didn’t have a computer and never sent e-mails. He had to have letters sent to the Council office.”

Mr King served Bradford Council for almost 40 years as a Conservative representative for Heaton until his retirement in 2008. He served as Lord Mayor in 2000.

His strict instructions were followed through from the traditional 1662 Common Book of Prayer funeral service and his selected organ pieces were played.

His final wishes for his funeral which was read during the service said: “I have lived more than the scriptured three score years and ten and have done most things I wanted to do as well as some I never thought of doing.”

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Dale Smith, said: “I think the service encapsulated Stanley. My memories of him go back to 1974 and they are very fond memories. He wouldn’t do any e-mails, but he was a modern man in many ways. He was a man of principle and is very well regarded.”

St Barnabas Church has been linked to milestones in Mr King’s family since 1865. It is where he was baptised in 1932 and confirmed 14 years later by the then Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend Alfred Blunt.

Inspector Tom Horner, attended the service on behalf of West Yorkshire Police and North Bradford Neighbourhood Policing Team along with Heaton officers.

He said: “It was a privilege to be here at the celebration of Stanley’s life. He was a pillar of the local community. He will be sadly missed by officers.”

A private cremation will be held at Nab Wood Crematorium, Shipley, next week.