The town came to a standstill this morning as people paid their respects to prominent Gravesham historian, Tony Larkin.

St John Evangelical R C Church, in Milton Road, Gravesend, filled up to the brim as family, friends and spectators attended Mr Larkin’s funeral.

Mr Larkin is thought to have died on Wednesday, January 3, having made the last entry into his diary on Tuesday, January 2.

More than 100 turned out to the funeral of the very well known historian in the Gravesend area.

The service was started with a Royal Engineer bugler before family members lifted the cloth off Mr Larkin’s coffin.

The parish priest, Father Innocent Abonyi, then paid tribute to the historian dubbed ‘Mr Gravesend’.

He said: “It is the end of an era; Tony Larkin was a first class parishioner.

“It is very, very rare to have a funeral as packed as this.

“This is a testament to the man we are celebrating.

“We cannot say enough about Tony Larkin.

“Together we pray and give honour to one of Gravesend’s greatest.

“Tony Larkin was one of the extraordinary generous souls.

“His death has left a big gap in the fabric of the church.”

Gravesham’s Mayor Harold Craske, historian Christoph Bull, Andrew Marshall, Mr Larkin’s niece Faith O’Neill, MP Adam Holloway, and Mr Larkin’s foster brother, Alan O'Neill, all gave eulogies.

Mr Bull said: “Tony was not just someone who we all knew.

“He was a familiar fixture of the town.

“Someone you could almost guarantee bumping into.

“It’s strange to realise that Tony won’t be seen again in Gravesend.

“He was someone as iconic as the clock tower, Windmill Hill or the library.

“He will be in our hearts and our memories and has already joined the great figures of the past who inspired and motivated him.”

Telling the congregation how Mr Larkin would be enjoying a bacon roll outside a library in heaven, he added: “Tony would never eat and have greasy fingers in the library.”

Cllr Craske said: “He was truly a great man, a friend of Gravesend and Gravesham.

“There was nothing that Tony didn’t know about Gravesham.

“He was the fountain of all knowledge.”

Mr Holloway said: “It was Tony who was Mr Gravesend and he thought it was the greatest town on the earth.”

Mr O’Neill finished the funeral using the phrase most associated with his late brother.

He said: “On behalf of Tony, take care and God bless.”

The hymns played during the mass were, As I Kneel Before You, Make Me a Channel of your Peace, This is My Body, I Watch the Sunrise and finished with, O Lord my God.

After the mass Mr Larkin’s body was taken by horse and carriage around Gravesend before being taken to Gravesend Cemetery in Old Road West.