A huge crowd turned out to pay their respects to a well known Glastonbury man on Friday.

On Friday 8 March just before 2pm Glastonbury came to a standstill as members of the community gathered to celebrate the life of Stuart Brogan.

Stuart was given the first Heathen funeral to take place in St John's Church, Glastonbury and the first Viking burial the town has seen for nearly 2,000 years.

The funeral procession was led by drummers and Viking re-enactors who gave him a guard of honour. Stuart and his wife Fiona ran the UK's only Viking shop, Wyrdraven, together.

Stuart was a professional drummer, accomplished author and proud follower of his Norse Pagan faith as well as proud owner of Wyrdraven, his Viking shop on Benedict St in Glastonbury. His wife Fiona said they were both practising Norse Pagans (Heathens).

Live coverage of the funeral itself inside St John's Church is also available on the church's Facebook page.

Fiona Brogan said: "We are all completely devastated by the sudden loss of Stu. He left a huge hole in everyone's hearts and the wider Viking community, with mourners watching his funeral service via livestream from as far away as New Zealand, Canada and even Vietnam and travelling from all over the world to attend the funeral in person too.

"Some of the younger shop customers wrote poems or sent hand drawn pictures and cards which really melted our hearts, whilst others left floral tributes, wishes and cards attached to the shop doorway.

"The church was full to capacity, a testament to his popularity and how many will miss him. The wake after the service was held in the Assembly Rooms which was bursting at the seams with people from all over."

Image from the YouTube video. Credit: Glastonbury Gabriel

Stuart Brogan's family would like to thank: St John's Church, High St, Glastonbury; the Revd Diana Greenfield and Pagan Chaplain Jacqui Wynn for the first time ever, jointly taking a Christian/Viking service in the church; the Viking warband Draca Beorðor and the Dragon Drummers Glastonbury for escorting the hearse safely along the High St to the church, and finally M Franks & Sons, funeral directors for their professionalism and kindness shown at such a sad time.

Image from the YouTube video. Credit: Glastonbury Gabriel