MORE than 400 people turned out to celebrate the life of one of Hull's best-known landlords.
Colin Harman, 54, had been serving customers hours before he suffered a heart attack in bed at his home above the Bonny Boat in Trinity Lane.
Mr Harman had been in the pub trade for more than 20 years, running the Spread Eagle in Withernsea and Hull Cheese before taking on the Bonny Boat 12 years ago.
At a funeral in Haltemprice Crematorium, the chapel was packed with people saying farewell to their landlord and friend.
Paying tribute to Mr Harman in the service, civil celebrant Alastair Devine praised his "fun-loving, cheeky character".
He said: "Col was genuinely interested in people. He had a smile for everyone.
"Col knew all his customers and he would make a point of shaking hands with all of them."
Mr Harman was born in Cottingham and had lived in East Yorkshire most of his life.
He was in the building trade before entering the pub industry 20 years ago.
He took part in the live nativity in Hull's Old Town at Christmas, playing the part of an innkeeper.
There were tears at the service but laughs as well as friends remembered Mr Harman's love of jokes.
His partner of six years Linda Levantiz was devastated when he died.
Speaking before the funeral, she said: "I could not have met a better person. I will miss everything about him.
"He was a total gentleman."
At yesterday's service, the family wanted to celebrate Mr Harman's life as well as mourning his sudden death.
Mr Devine said: "You are allowed to smile when you remember Col. It's not about how did he die, but how did he live. Col's life was a lot shorter than it should have been but he worked hard and he played hard."
With a sob in her voice, his daughter Becky read poem Death Is Nothing At All by Henry Scott Holland.
It encouraged listeners to "laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together".
The smiles on the faces of Mr Harman's friends showed they took the advice to heart.
