“TO EVERYONE that stopped him on the street he gave them the same amount of courtesy, time and respect - he recognised the fact that you were the reason he became Mr Swindon.”

These were the heartfelt words of Keith Cleverley - friend, colleague and best man of the much-loved BBC DJ Sandy Martin, who lost his battle with a brain tumour at the age of 53.

At his funeral held in Christ Church yesterday, more than 500 mourners listened as Keith described his dear friend as a tenacious, positive, sensitive perfectionist whose motto was ‘live life with passion’.

He said: “His passion for music was the key to his future and back drop to his life.

“In a time when people didn’t follow their dreams, he did exactly that.

“Sandy was my colleague then he became my work mate, then a great friend. He asked me to be his best man and I asked him to be mine.”

Sandy, originally from Dundee, was a popular face and voice in Swindon having made his name as a DJ in the Brunel Rooms in the 1990s before going on to present several radio programmes.

Yesterday, en route to the church, the cortege paused outside BBC Wiltshire in Old Town to allow people to pay their respects there.

The coffin was brought in to the church to the sounds of Stevie Wonder, and during the service, which was led by Rev Simon Stevenette, songs including ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Somewhere (A Place For Us)’ were performed.

Pictures of the happy-go-lucky entertainer appeared on a big screen and included snaps of him doing the job he loved, through which he touched the lives of people all over Wiltshire.

Keith said: “He was probably expected to spend his life in Dundee in a proper job, not in the music industry.

“But within a short space of time he became established as a great entertainer and DJ. He then moved on to conquer radio, he was everywhere - Mr Swindon I used to call him.

“He was the cornerstone of the town’s Christmas pantomime. Any new business starting up had to have Sandy there, charity events were desperate to get him to attend, any events needing a compere had to have Sandy.”

Mourners wept as Keith spoke of Sandy’s “boyish naivety and limitless energy” as well as his love for his wife of 11 years Sarah, their two-year-old twins Max and Grace and his job.

“He often told me Sarah was the centre of his universe and without her he would be nothing,” he said.

“He believed he was the luckiest man alive when he met her. He also believed working for the BBC was an honour, every day he would skip out of the door.

“If you told him you were the nicest person on the land he would believe you, even if there was proof you were a complete git.

“He made time for everyone, even the little people.

“He never expected to be recognised and he was always happy when he wasn’t. I believe he would have happily done his job anonymously if he could.”

Sandy was diagnosed with a brain tumour in November but throughout his illness, he remained upbeat and positive.

Keith said: “In the last few weeks I asked him honestly how he felt and he just said ‘Keithy, I didn’t see this coming’, but then he said ‘When I feel better I’m going to spend more time with the kids, take Sarah everywhere she has wanted to go, enjoy life more and eat more cake. Then he looked at me and said ‘Who am I kidding?’ “That was the only time he let anyone believe maybe this was serious. He didn’t complain once, he never moaned.

“Ironically, at 53, his life was complete. He had his beautiful wife, the twins who he adored, the job he was most proud of and his health. He never mentioned his disappointment about becoming ill, for him this was just a setback.

“Well Sandy, my old chum, I am disappointed, so very, very disappointed. I feel lost without you - it sounds crass to say you have left a hole in my life, but the fact is, you have.

“So I still intend to come to Swindon every three months to share a drink with you - my friend, my best man, and if anyone wishes to join me you are welcome, because I’ll be raising my glass to a remarkable man - Sandy Martin, Mr Swindon.”

Sandy’s coffin was taken out of the church to music played at his and Sarah’s wedding in 2000.

The service was followed by a private cremation at Kingsdown Crematorium.