Actress Susannah York joined stars from across Sussex to say goodbye to Keith Slade, one of the leading lights of local radio.

Mr Slade, a jazz and amateur dramatics devotee, died aged 74 two weeks ago.

The service at Woodvale Crematorium was packed with names from yesteryear from BBC Radio Brighton and BBC Radio Sussex, including John Henty, Bob Gunnell and Ivan Howlett.

The Riverside Jump Band, of which Keith Slade was a member, serenaded mourners at the funeral before going on to a wake in Steyning.

Mr Slade had only recently moved back to Lewes with his wife Pamela after spending time in the West Country.

He died suddenly at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, on August 14 after being admitted for tests.

He was Brighton born and bred, attending the old Fawcett Secondary School before gaining his drama qualifications from Guildford School of Music and Drama.

Early in his career he worked for The Argus as a proof reader when the paper was printed in the centre of Brighton in North Road.

He taught at the Florence Moore Theatre School in Hove, where he also made a series of short films.

When Radio Brighton started in 1967 he presented many arts and news programmes using his unrivalled knowledge of the local arts scene.

Although he started his radio career at almost 40, his enthusiasm for local radio was unrivalled.

After retiring from working full-time at the BBC at the age of 60 in 1988, he continued to contribute to TV and radio programmes as a freelancer.