An Abergavenny man’s friends sang a spirited farewell to him following his death just days from his 100th birthday.

John Allsopp, a former chairman of Abergavenny’s Probus club, passed away a fortnight ago, less than a week before a telegram from the Queen had chance to arrive.

Convening as usual on Wednesday morning at the King’s Arms, members of Abergavenny’s Probus shared rousing memories of their friend John, before singing ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ in his honour.

John joined the club in the 1970s, before charing the group in 1989. Probus, a portmanteau of ‘Professional’ and ‘Business’, kept John’s attention for the next 37 years, having last attended the meetings of likeminded people until March this year.

David Cutting, 84, friend and fellow member, said some of John’s favourite memories were of his duties on the Isle of Islay in 1956 whilst working for Customs and Excise, a service he joined in the 1930s, and took up again after World War II.

Retiring in 1977, John, a practising Christian, councillor, and liberal supporter, drove his car right up to 2014, aged 96.

Mr Cutting, said, “He said the next renewal of his licence would take him up to his 100th birthday.

“Although declining in health, and inflicted with increasing deafness, he was one of Probus’ most regular attendees, and a great contributor to our talks programme. He was always smiling, always interested in other people and much liked and admired by everyone who knew him.

“We shall miss him.”