A RALLYING call is going out for Darlington residents to give a wartime hero the farewell he deserves after decades of service to his town and country.

Second World War veteran Fred Willans died aged 100 on April 23 and under normal circumstances, a standard-bearer, military representatives and dozens of his family and friends would be gathering at his funeral to celebrate his life.

Sadly, due to coronavirus social distancing restrictions, just ten immediate family members are allowed to attend Fred’s funeral at Darlington Crematorium on Monday afternoon, May 4.

So The Northern Echo is backing his family’s appeal for people to ‘wave a flag for Fred’ and display the cut-out above in their windows or salute Fred - respecting social distancing - when his funeral cortege passes by.

His nephew, Trevor Willans, said Fred lived all his life in Darlington and it would be a fitting tribute if the people of the town he loved could turn out to pay their respects to him on his final journey.

He said: “It would be nice if people could stand out and salute him out, it is a shame that we can’t give him the send-off he deserves.

“I think it would be a fitting end, particularly with it being VE Day three days later.

"It would mean a lot to the family.

“Obviously we can’t have the limousines taking people to the funeral but we will be following the hearse in our private cars and it would be absolutely lovely if people did the flags or came out to salute him.

“There aren’t many veterans left anymore and Fred was truly one of Darlington’s own.”

Trevor added that Fred was ‘a soldier to the end’ as he passed away on St George’s Day and the Last Post will be played at his funeral.

The funeral cortege will leave Fred’s home on Yiewsley Drive at approximately 1.50pm.

It will then travel onto Garthorne Avenue, Edinburgh Drive, Salutation Road onto Coniscliffe Road and then Carmel Road North to Darlington Crematorium in time for the ceremony to start at 2.15pm.