A piper played the bagpipes as a much-loved father and grandfather was taken to his final resting place.

Matthew McRae played ‘Going Home’ as the coffin of Scotsman Robert Beaton arrived outside Dartford Working Men’s Club in Essex Road, Dartford .

Robert, who was president of the Working Men’s Club, died on January 19, just nine weeks after his beloved wife Fiona.

His funeral was held on Thursday, February 29.

His son Stuart said he had had no signs of ill health before his death from a pulmonary embolism.

“My mum and dad were married for 53 years,” he said. “He was devastated when she died and as much as we tried to support him I think it was his body’s way of saying he wanted to go and see mum.”

Robert was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but had moved his family down to Dartford more than 40 years ago.

Robert, who was 81, was president of the club when he died and has been an active member of the committee for 18 years.

Stuart, 49, said: “Mum and Dad had a special relationship, as you would imagine after 57 years.

“Dad was the sociable, confident, outgoing, talk-to-anyone kind of person. Almost the opposite of mum but the combination worked well, and dad was mum’s confidence as much as mum was dad’s rock.”

After his wife had a fall last August she went for a scan and was found to have stage four breast cancer.

Robert was her carer until she died.

Stuart said: “Never did we see more dedication to his beloved wife than when mum was ill, and Dad took up the role of carer as well as husband and as well as being strong for all of us.”

Paying tribute to his dad, Stuart said: “He made you feel welcome, warm, happy and loved. Even when he was under the weather, or struggling, you always felt his charismatic warmth and energy.”

He said despite being 81 years old his dad never tired of arranging the children’s parties and activities for his friends at the club.

Stuart added: “He spoke fondly of the children’s parties; especially watching some of the children who attended those first parties grow into adults and then bring their own children to the panto’s because of their happy memories.

“He also set the poker club up with my brother Michael and enjoyed triumph most years.

“But he was most proud of becoming President a couple of years ago.

“We were all so proud and had no idea how he managed to do that when he was over 80 years old.”

A painter and decorator by trade, he spent the Covid lockdown re-decorating the club.

Any spare time he had he enjoyed walking on the coast, spending time with his family and supporting his favourite football teams Kilmarnock FC and Dartford FC.

Robert leaves behind four children Stuart, Michael, Roberta and Alistair and two grandchildren Poppy and Harvey.