ABOUT 300 people attended a special thanksgiving service to celebrate the life of former Maidstone Borough Council chief executive David Makepeace.

Family, friends, borough councillors and former colleagues filled The Drive Methodist Church at Sevenoaks, where Mr Makepeace worshipped. The special service followed a private family funeral.

Mr Makepeace, 55, who was the council's chief executive for more than 13 years until he took early retirement in March 2000, was found dead at his home in Sevenoaks on October 3.

The memorial service content was arranged by Mr Makepeace's widow, Doreen, who read Psalm 26, and his daughters, Ruth and Philippa, who both read poems. Other readings were given by former Mayor, Cllr Dan Daley, and David Foster.

Dr Geoff Ramsham, a close family friend, delivered an appreciation of Mr Makepeace. He said the former council chief would be remembered for his "humour and sense of fun, which so often lifted the spirits of those around him."

Dr Ramsham described Mr Makepeace as a man of many parts who enjoyed drawing and water colour painting, loved music, both as a listener and performer, and literature.

An inquest into Mr Makepeace's death has been opened and adjourned. Police say there were no suspicious circumstances.