Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of a popular and respected sports coach who inspired generations of young people for more than 50 years.

Trevor Davies discovered his love of judo in Faversham aged just 11 and later began teaching the sport at schools across the county, as well as running two clubs in Ashford.

In the late 1970s , he represented England and became IBF European champion in his weight category.

His popularity and the esteem in which he was held was evident at his funeral at Faversham Crematorium on Monday.

The service was attended by more than 400 mourners, many of them former pupils from over the decades.

His coffin was escorted by four senior black belts from Faversham Judo Club - all of whom he had coached as children.

Trevor, who lived in North Preston in the town, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August last year and died on July 25, aged 77, at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

He leaves a widow, Helena, and children Shane and Nicol – both from his first marriage.

Alongside judo, Trevor’s early life in Faversham included training as a gentlemen’s outfitter at Richard Gordon’s shop in the town, where he developed his familiar dapper style.

His parents also ran the Brents Tavern for several years.

An all-round sportsman, Trevor’s breakthrough in judo came when he rose to black belt status.

He had taken over the running of Young Judo Club-Ospringe in 1972, based in the village school.

Three years later, his talent as a mentor was spotted and he was offered a job as a travelling judo coach, teaching many underprivileged children in schools throughout Kent.

But in 1980, during cuts in education services, his job was lost, leaving him out of work.

He then settled back at Faversham Judo Club, where it all began for him, and went on to become its head coach and president.

By then, at the age of 33, Trevor started a completely new career in metalwork for Gilbert Fabrications, where he stayed for 31 years until his retirement in 2011.

But his passion for judo and coaching continued throughout his life.

He became a leading coach in the county, training with some of the best in the sport, and hundreds of youngsters benefitted from his mentoring.

He held licences for all three recognised judo associations and achieved the high level of 7th Dan with the IBF.

Trevor worked tirelessly with the Faversham club, including grading performances, visiting tournaments with students and attending summer camps.

He also held classes on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at the Abbey School.

To celebrate his 65 years in judo earlier this year, the club resurrected and updated Trevor’s old ‘Faversham Budo School’ logo, and presented him with a handcrafted shield version of it.

With Helena, he enjoyed worldwide travel and was particularly excited to visit Japan and the birthplace of judo, Kodo Dan.

Friends say he was an extraordinary, but humble, man who led a remarkable life and will be remembered with great affection by the many he inspired.