By the time St Margaret’s Church filled up there was standing room only as hundreds turned out for the funeral of much loved and respected councillor Mike O’Brien.

Cllr O’Brien passed away earlier this month aged 72 following a battle with cancer, and more than 400 people attended his funeral service on Friday, September 23.

Leading the tributes were son Martin and daughter Sharon, who described her father as “her mentor” - a man who had lived life to the full and been devoted to his family.

Among the mourners were many figures from Medway council, including council leader Alan Jarrett and former leader Rodney Chambers; as well as Gillingham & Rainham MP Rehman Chishti, while singer Jamie Johnson was also among the congregation.

A eulogy read by Rev. Judy Henning recalled how Cllr O’Brien had attended Rochester Grammar School before joining the Royal Navy, and had gone on to found his own insurance company in Rainham - selling £1 million of life insurance and becoming a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

Having met his wife Sheila on a blind date in 1963, they soon fell in love and went on to have two children; but it was though his work as a councillor that he touched the lives of many more around Medway - first as joining Gillingham Council in 1976 and going on to hold many positions in Medway Council, latterly as Rainham Central ward councillor and portfolio holder for children’s services.

Among other speakers at Fridays service were friend Mike Ward - who read the poem “God Saw You” - and Captain Kevin Wells who read the Aerthusa Prayer, in reference to Cllr O’Brien’s time aboard the Arethusa training ship.

MP Rehman Chishti, also spoke, saying: “Mike was a wonderful human being; kind, compassionate, always optimistic. Whenever you asked Mike ‘how are you today?’ the answer you got was ‘on top of the world’ with a wonderful smile.”

He said Cllr O’Brien had dedicated his life to public service and been an excellent education chief for Medway Council, having been passionate about raising standards in Medway schools, as well as being a tireless political campaigner.

He added: “Mike might not be with us in person any more but his vision, his values, his integrity, and his wonderful memories will always live on.”

Closing music included The End of the Line by the Travelling Wilburys and Rod Stewart’s version of Smile.