Guard of honour at service for ex-fireman Raymond Gradwell

Firefighters in full ceremonial uniform including old-style silver helmets will form a guard of honour to say a final farewell to a former colleague who has died following a long illness.

Raymond Gradwell, aged 79, served in stations in Tettenhall and Wolverhampton for 28 years before his retirement in 1981.

His widow Audrey said today the father-of-two had "loved his job", adding the ceremonial send-off was "what he would have wanted".

Mr Gradwell, who leaves five grandchildren as well as sons Michael, 41, and Stephen, 39, was told by doctors he had just two years to live when he was diagnosed with aggressive cancer multiple myeloma at the end of 2003.

He eventually lost his battle with the disease earlier this month. He joined the fire service in 1953, starting at the old wood-built station on Wergs Road in Tettenhall.

Mr Gradwell also worked at the former Red Lion Street station in Wolverhampton before moving to the new Tettenhall base, in Haywood Drive, in 1971.

Mrs Gradwell said in his spare time her husband enjoyed a game of dominoes and "two pints of Banks's Mild" at the Claregate pub in Codsall Road. A pack of dominoes and a cribbage board is being placed by his family in his coffin.

Mrs Gradwell, aged 74, said: "He loved his job, he loved everything about it. It was his life.

"Two of the firemen came round to say they were thinking of giving him a guard of honour. I told them he would have liked that."

Following his retirement Mr Gradwell volunteered as an ambulance driver at Oxley day centre. Nominated for a 'heart of gold' award for the Esther Rantzen TV series, Mr Gradwell agreed to accept on the condition he would not have to appear on the show.

Mrs Gradwell said she met her husband at a dance at Wolverhampton Civic Centre, adding: "We haven't been dancing since."

The couple married at Beckminster Methodist Church in April 1968 and lived at Buttermere Close in Tettenhall before moving to Lowlands Avenue four years ago.

A funeral service will be held at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Haywood Drive, Tettenhall, from 1pm tomorrow.