Around 260 people attended a service of thanksgiving for the life of Morel D'Souza at St Francis RC Church in Week Street, Maidstone, this morning.

Mr D'Souza died in Maidstone Hospital on Tuesday, April 24. He was 72.

He had served as a Labour borough councillor from 1996 to 2008, first for Bridge Ward and then for Fant.

Born in Kenya of Goan heritage, and married to Karin, a Finn, he was the founder of the Maidstone Mela which sought to bring the town's diverse ethnics groups together to share our common values.

He became Maidstone’s first ethnic minority Mayor in 2003.

In the congregation, were the present Mayor, Cllr Dave Naghi, and two former Mayors, Cllr Malcolm Greer and John Horne, as well as Alison Broom, the chief executive officer of Maidstone Borough Council as well as serving councillors Malcolm McKay, Tom and Janetta Sams and Fay Gooch.

Former Labour MEP Mark Watts was also present and is due to read an eulogy at the subsequent committal service at Vinters Park Crematorium.

The service was led by Father Liam Gallagher and included the hymns The Lord's My Shepherd, Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace and Bind Us Together.

Former council leader Fran Wilson recently described Mr D'Souza as "a truly kind man, who never said an ill word against anyone."