Mourners and Royal Mail vans line streets of Barrow to bid farewell to Stuart Metcalfe

Stuart was husband to Cheryl, dad to Laura and Stephanie, step-dad to Laura, Becky, Adam and Sophie and grandad to Imogen, Awais and Polly

A devoted postman of 25 years, Stuart was known for delivering mail across Barrow and Dalton during his decades of service.

He was also known for his life-long support of the Bluebirds which he shared with his wife of five years Cheryl.

READ MORE: Dedicated Barrow postman and Barrow AFC supporter Stuart Metcalfe dies

More than a hundred people – including family members, friends and Royal Mail colleagues – came out to show their respects on Thursday and bid farewell to the ‘much missed’ Stuart.

Stuart’s daughter Laura said more than 200 people came to the funeral which she described as a ‘beautiful day for a beautiful person’.

She said: “It was absolutely amazing. To drive up Cemetery Hill and see that was unbelievable and then to drive towards to crematorium with the biggest crowd waiting and they all applauded my dad.

“It was so overwhelming, but we thought wow, that’s for our dad. It just shows the impact he had on everyone’s lives; it was just a beautiful day for a beautiful person.”

Since news of his sudden death, the family has been inundated with kind words about Stuart and the hole he will leave behind.

Barrow AFC held a minute’s applause on Saturday before their match against Leyton Orient in honour of Stuart and his commitment to the club.

A fundraising page has also been launched to help buy a bench, plaque and flag on Mendip Gardens – the street where Stuart lived – in memory of his life.

READ MORE: Barrow neighbours of Stuart Metcalfe fundraise for memorial bench

Organised by his neighbour of 22 years, John Ellis hopes the gesture will be a place for people to remember his late friend.

The page has already raised more than £2,000 despite being launched less than a fortnight ago.

To make a donation, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-stu-metcalfe