BROADCASTER Ed Stewart was remembered as a “consummate professional”, fun-loving family man and supporter of charities during his funeral in Bournemouth.

The former Junior Choice and Crackerjack presenter died locally in hospital on January 9, aged 74, several days after suffering a stroke.

Former Radio 1 DJs Mike Read and Adrian Juste were among the congregation that packed St Peter’s Church in Bournemouth this afternoon, along with singer and actress Anita Harris and comedian Bobby Davro.

His coffin arrived to the strains of the Seekers’ Morningtown Ride, as performed by Stan Butcher and his Birds and Brass – the jaunty record which became the theme to Junior Choice.

Before the proceedings got under way, the silence gave way to the recording Ed made of a cackling East End boy calling “’Ello darling!”, which punctuated every Junior Choice show.

Bournemouth’s town centre rector, the Rev Ian Terry, said: “Ed gave pleasure, vibrancy and laughter and he helped so many charities.

“He helped literally millions of people to find life better, more fun, so today we’re here to give thanks for him.”

Mark Carolan, the husband of Ed's daughter Francesca, led the mourners with a rendition of the catchphrase: "It's Friday, it's five to five, it's Crackerjack!"

He added: "Simple words that many millions remember him by, but a select few remember him for so much more than that, how positive he was about everything in life."

The congregation heard a letter from Francesca, in which she said: “Thank you for being such a warm, fun and such a positive dad. Thank you for always igniting that sense of adventure in us – even though so many adventures you took us on could have put us off adventures for life!”

She added: “Your passion, your positivity and your love lives on through all your grandchildren.”

There was a valediction by the showbusiness charity the Grand Order of Water Rats, while a several speakers joked about Ed’s sense of fun, his love of red wine and the wallet which he was said to keep on a chain.

David Block, who was a publicist during Ed’s Junior Choice years but went on to write TV scripts for him, recalled Ed “never playing the big star – which is what he was”.

“He didn’t change one iota for as long as I knew him as a colleague and dear friend. His life was dedicated to entertainment but also to having a great time while he was doing it,” he said.

Friend and charity fundraiser Bob Bevan joked: “He wasn’t tight. He was just hopeless at handling money – especially when it was his round – and the domestic side of life, all of which he readily admitted.”

He added: “How he would have loved all the tributes and being on the 10 o’clock news.

“He was a consummate professional who made a difficult job seem like falling off a log – someone who made the audience feel they were enjoying every second of what they were doing.”

The funeral ended with You’ll Never Walk Alone – a favourite of the Everton-supporting presenter.

Ed’s parents, Ray and Peggy Mainwaring, moved to Studland 50 years ago and his sister Sue Mainwaring still lives in Swanage.

Ed lived in Westbourne and more recently New Milton, belonged to Isle of Purbeck golf club and supported a host of good causes, including the Wessex branch of Variety, the Children’s Charity.

His last broadcast was on Christmas Day, when he presented a special edition of Junior Choice on Radio 2.