Aldi staff will stand outside one of the county's stores to pay their respects to a much-loved customer as his funeral procession passes by tomorrow.

John Garbutt, who died aged 96 last month, was a regular visitor to the Cliftonville supermarket, where he enjoyed chatting to staff.

In a letter to the store manager, Mr Garbutt's daughter Joyce Green said her father loved going shopping there.

"His last years were enriched by the lovely banter and care from your Aldi staff," she said.

"Even the security guards were kind to dad. Especially during this last difficult year.

"When I told the ladies about Dad's passing, they were very sad."

Mrs Green says she wrote to say thank you but also to ask if staff would stand outside the store in Zion Place tomorrow as the funeral cars pass, which they have agreed to do.

"I'm thrilled - it's really special to me that they're doing this," she said.

"Dad loved shopping. We had our favourites, Lidl, Morrisons and Aldi.

"The staff in Aldi were amazing to my dad and they also really cared, for when I broke the news of his death, there were tears.

"Dad loved a bargain so much that if we ever got one we would buy it for him and enjoy showing off our reduced-price finds."

Mr Garbutt, who lived at Queen's Lodge in Cliftonville, was an Auxiliary Captain in the Salvation Army and had four children with his beloved wife Peggy.

The pair met on April 18, 1942, and just four months later he proposed by a wall in Ravensbury Park, Morden.

"This is where he would like us to scatter their ashes - very romantic," said Mrs Green.

She says her father, who had nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, became an Auxiliary Captain in 1971.

"Mum and Dad were wonderful officers and brought a lot of happiness to the people they served," she said.

"In all the photos of my parents during their service, they look serenely happy."

Mrs Green says her father had bounced back from many health scares in the last eight years, including throat cancer, a broken hip, a broken femur and sepsis.

"Since then various falls, confusion and infections, but with the dedicated team of carers we were mostly able to keep him comfortable and happy," she said.

"It has been an absolutely extraordinary time and I know all the carers loved him deeply."

Mr Garbutt's funeral service is being taken by Major John Watson and Lieutenant Carl Whitewood at Thanet Crematorium.

"There was a very special bond from Major John Watson and Dad relished his visits and has struggled over the past year, not quite understanding the Covid pandemic and the restrictions the government imposed," said Mrs Green.

"He wanted to go to London to demonstrate.

"I know Dad is in a good place now. No more pain. Promoted to glory. Thank you for being our dad, our friend, always bringing words of comfort, a shoulder to cry on. Always an inspiration. Always there with so much love and advice. You will be sorely missed."

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