Family and friends attended Stephen Lewis' funeral earlier today
STEPHEN LEWIS' closest friends and family gathered to pay their respects earlier today, after the actor died aged 88 earlier this month.
A double-decker bus marking Stephen's most famous role - Inspector Cyril 'Blakey' Blake in sitcom On The Buses - was among the floral tributes at his funeral.
The service was attended by the only surviving star of the hit show, Anna Karen, who paid tribute to a "very funny man".
She said: "He'll be very sadly missed. He was an extremely talented and very funny man and wonderful to work with."
Stephen was laid to rest after a service at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Wanstead, east London.
On The Buses actor died aged 88
Anna Karen joined friends and family to pay her respects
Stephen was best known for playing Blakey in On The Buses
Floral tributes were left at the actor's funeral
A double-decker bus was amongst floral arrangements left at the church
His family said Stephen 'died peacefully' at his nursing home
Anna Karen is the only surviving star of On The Buses
The service, attended by more than 100 mourners including family, friends and fans, was led by Father Martin O'Connor. Hymns included Be Still My Soul, to a melody from Finlandia by Sibelius, and Guide Me O Thy Great Redeemer.
His great-niece Rebecca gave a reading and an eulogy to the actor was given by the wife of his nephew Peter.
She described the actor as a "kind, generous and funny man whose family meant the world to him", adding that he would probably be "chuckling at the attention".
His coffin was carried out of the church to the sound of Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again before a burial at St Patrick's Cemetery.
The order of service featured four pictures of Lewis, including one of him as "Blakey" in full cry, pointing his finger in fury as he is provoked by the antics of bus driver Stan Butler (Reg Varney) and conductor Jack Harper (Bob Grant).
Stephen, born in Poplar, east London, in 1926, was the son of Richard Lewis, a stoker in the Royal Navy, and his wife Elizabeth.
He worked as a bricklayer, electrician's mate and carpenter and also joined the Merchant Navy before first treading the boards at the Theatre Royal in Stratford. He went on to star in several plays, and made his West End debut in The Hostage in 1958.
Stephen's television roles also included Harry Lambert in Oh, Doctor Beeching!, as Royston Flagg in Rep, and Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway in Last Of The Summer Wine.
He died aged 88 on August 12 at Cambridge Nursing Home in Wanstead, where he lived with his sister, Connie Christopher.
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