A thanksgiving service for Mid Somerset Newspapers assistant editor Michael Chamberlain attracted 700 people to his parish church in Wells.

There was standing room only as the Dean of Wells, police chiefs, firemen, daily newspaper editors and the whole Wells City Council rubbed shoulders in St Cuthbert's.

Tributes to Michael's courage, compassion, community work and dedication to journalism were paid by editor Philip Welch and Wells mayor Jean Hague.

He died in Wells Cottage Hospital on January 12 after a brave fight against throat cancer at the age of 62.

Only three months earlier Michael had been given the Freedom of Wells at a packed ceremony in the same church. He was the first journalist to be given this honour.

Michael was known as "Mr Wells" and earlier worked for the Western Gazette, as well as writing weekly sermons for the Western Daily Press in his capacity as a Lay Reader at St Cuthbert's.

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