One of Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryson's last wishes was that the fight to save the West Pier in Brighton should continue after his death.

The admiral, who has died aged 80, was chairman of the Brighton West Pier Trust for many years.

Former city council chief executive Glynn Jones told a thanksgiving service at St Peter's Church in Brighton yesterday "As chairman, he fought against bureaucracy, obfuscation and the elements to rescue Britain's first Grade I listed pier.

"He asked us to continue the battle when he had gone and we will."

St Peter's was almost full for the service. Among the congregation were Sir Lindsay's widow and many members of the family.

Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, his successor as Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, represented the Queen.

She praised Sir Lindsay's efforts to bring town and country together.

Also there were city mayor Pat Drake, Brighton and Hove's three MPs, Ivor Caplin, David Lepper and Des Turner, and council chief executive Alan McCarthy.

A Bible reading was given by Colonel Tony Feek, Clerk to the Lieutenancy, while Sir Lindsay's daughter Ann, read The South Country by Hillaire Belloc.

The 75-minute service was led by the Archdeacon of Chichester, the Venerable Douglas McKittrick. He paid tribute to Sir Lindsay as a man of God and a man of faith.

The Archdeacon thanked Sir Lindsay for backing the City Forum, set up in 1998, and for calling it one of the best things to have happened in Brighton or Hove for a long time.

Judge Rolf Hammerton said Sir Lindsay had gone all the way from a council house in Glasgow to become an admiral and Third Sea Lord. He added: "He never forgot an old friend or their families.

"The world will remember him for the great man he undoubtedly was but he was also a family man and a thoughtful and loyal friend."

Commander Bob Grainger, Second Master of the Worshipful Company of Cooks, said it was unusual for an engineer to have had so much influence in the Royal Navy.

One of Sir Lindsay's proudest achievements was getting ships which had been lost in the 1982 Falklands War replaced.

Mr Jones said Sir Lindsay was connected with myriad organisations and did his best for them all.

He conducted meetings of the Sussex University Council with skill and was a prime mover in restoring the Old Market at Hove where a hall is to be named after him.

Prayers were led by the Reverend Canon Beaumont Brandie, staff chaplain of the Sea Cadet Corps. The New Sussex Opera sang Loch Lomond as part of the service which was agreed with Sir Lindsay shortly before he died.