Hundreds attend funeral of Bristol man who raised thousands for veterans
Hundreds attended the funeral of a man who helped raise hundreds of thousands for Normandy Veterans.
Peter Hodge MBE spent years fundraising which resulted in him being made a MBE in 2010. He died from cancer in December.
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Mr Hodge, from Bishopsworth in Bristol, was one of the founding members of the Sword Fund. The charity was formed to raise funds for veterans of World War Two.
His work raised thousands to finance veteran events, including a trip to Holland to celebrate its liberation and services in Bristol cathedral.
As the honorary general secretary of the Normandy Veterans Association (NVA), Mr Hodge travelled to events around the world laying wreaths and attending commemoration services.
His fundraising role at the NVA allowed UK veterans to go to France for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
At the peak of Mr Hodge's work the NVA could raise thousands in one day. This resulted in multiple rewards for ex-soldiers including every veteran in Bristol receiving £330 while thousands went towards events and trips for them.
Mr Hodge's work caught the attention of many during his life, including the famous comedian Eddie Izzard, who got involved in his campaign in 2009 pouring coffee for Veterans and their families at an event at Duxford War Museum.
The funeral will be held at St Pius X church on Gatehouse Avenue, at 2.15pm on January 21. It will then be followed by a wake at Bristol City Football Club banqueting suit Winterstoke Rd at 3pm.