Dozens of strangers attend the funeral of a loyal radio listener, 83, who thanked his favourite station in an emotional message from beyond the grave

• Retired accountant John Martin, 83, sent a message from beyond the grave
• DJ Steve Harris, at BBC Radio Solent, led calls for listeners to attend the funeral
• Sylvia Ramsey, who lived in the same Weymouth block as John, said he was ‘a really nice man’ that she used to have tea and coffee with 

Dozens of strangers have attended the funeral of a loyal radio listener who sent a message of thanks to his favourite station from beyond the grave.

Retired accountant John Martin moved DJs and listeners to tears when he sent an ‘if you’re reading this…’ note to BBC Radio Solent.

The 83-year-old had been an avid listener to its Dorset breakfast show and was known to them simply as ‘John from Weymouth’.

Retired accountant John Martin moved dozens of strangers to attend his funeral after writing a letter to his favourite station, BBC Radio Solent, from beyond the grave

The letter read: ‘When you read this card I will have departed from this earth’

The pensioner, who had no family, called the show every day to join in with their on-air quizzes.

DJ Steve Harris thought something was amiss when they hadn’t heard from John for a couple of weeks.

He was at first relieved when he received an envelope with the pensioner’s handwriting on but was shocked when he opened it and read the message in the card.

It read: ‘To all the team. When you read this card I will have departed from this earth.

‘Just a message to thank all of you all for you programmes, stuff of local interest, news, travel, weather, interviews, brain teasers, music, plus more general world news, and sport, since you started in July 2013.

‘I hope your coverage continues for many years to come.’ 

‘Thanks for everything, John.’

The retired accountant had been ill for a while and had arranged for solicitors executing his will to post the card in the event of his death. 

Dozens of strangers turned up for the funeral for the 83-year-old, who had no family, led by DJ Steve Harris. He gave a eulogy at the service held at Weymouth crematorium. (Pictured) Some of the people that attended his funeral including this group of walkers who regularly bumped into him in Weymouth cafes

The hearse pictured arriving at the crematorium for the service. John had been ill for a while and had arranged for solicitors executing his will to post the card in the event of his death

The hearse with the coffin inside shown pulling into Weymouth crematrium. Radio listener Trish Brown said: ‘The service was absolutely lovely. I didn’t know John but I heard Steve on the radio and I thought it would terrible if no-one turned up.’

Steve issued a rallying call to listeners to help him pay respects to John at his funeral.

The DJ gave the eulogy at the service held at Weymouth Crematorium.

He said John was part of the station’s ‘family’ and had always been ‘warm, kind and generous to a fault’.

He said: ‘Just as we meant a lot to him. He meant a lot to us.’

Sylvia Ramsey, who lived in the same sheltered housing block as John, said: ‘He was a really nice man. He used to come down and we used to give him coffee, tea, a biscuit or cake.’

Her husband David added that he was a ‘very quiet man’ and ‘excellent at quizzes’.

John lived in sheltered housing in Weymouth with Sylvia Ramsey (left) and her husband David, among others. Sylvia said he was a ‘really nice man’ who ‘used to come down and we used to give him coffee, tea, a biscuit or cake’

A picture of the schedule for John’s funeral service, which was held on Thursday this week

DJ Steve Harris (left) called for listeners to attend the funeral. John used to call in every day during the breakfast show on BBC Radio Solent to take part in the on-air quizzes

A picture of the front of the card that John, who had no family, sent in to the radio station

Julie Tyler, manager of the sheltered housing block Jenner Court said: ‘The radio was his life…he knew every single word of every single song that it put on, from opera to pop.’

Radio listener Trish Brown said: ‘The service was absolutely lovely. I didn’t know John but I heard Steve on the radio and I thought it would terrible if no-one turned up.’

Carole Caple said: ‘I think we have missed out in not knowing John.’

A spokesman for solicitors Mustoe Shorter in Dorchester confirmed their client, John Martin, had instructed them to send the card in the event of his death.

The spokesman said Mr Martin died on 26 June and had no surviving relatives.

Steve said: ‘John was a regular fixture of our listenership. He was really dedicated to the show.

‘I got the impression that he listened all the time.’

Source: Read Full Article