Tributes paid to popular Eastbourne firefighter and Falklands veteran who was ‘Polegate born and bred’

Shaun Levett, a former Royal Marine, died on April 1 at the age of 60 following a six-year battle with a rare form of abdominal cancer.

Suzanne Levett, who had been married to Shaun for 38 years, said: “He was very outgoing, sociable, liked by so many people. That is why the turnout for the funeral was in access of about 300 people. He was very popular and a very likable character.”

At Mr Levett’s funeral, which was held on April 18 at Wealden Crematorium, he was given a guard of honour from firefighters and Royal Marine commandos. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s chief fire officer Dawn Whittaker also attended.

Mrs Levett said: “It was very overwhelming. I think it was one of the largest they had done at the Wealden Crematorium.

“He was a local hero and I think so many people knew him and he will be really missed by a lot of people. It was amazing the turnout that came to the funeral.

“It is really hard, but we are a strong family so we are all pulling together.”

Mrs Levett explained how she and her husband, who was a Falklands War veteran, both attended Willingdon Community School and first met when they were both aged 11. The couple started dating when they were 17.

She said: “I felt that we were soul mates really because we had known each other for so long. We were so close. The nice thing was that all of our friends were joint-friends because we knew them from school and we had a large network of friends here and in Plymouth where we were when he was in the Marines.”

Mrs Levett, who is a registered nurse practitioner, added that she is being supported by the couple’s two sons, Tom and Max, and their partners – as well as their three grandchildren.

She added: “He has left a huge gap in our family but was so loved and will never be forgotten.”

A spokesperson from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “Lev, as he was affectionately known, was an a honest and supportive colleague, somewhat of a character and [was] never afraid to share his views on a subject. A man who loved the land, nature, country music, and more importantly his wife, children and grandchildren.

“Shaun battled a long period of illness, but never allowed it to get in the way of living his life to the full with those he knew and cared for, particularly his family.

“It was our privilege along with retired members of the Royal Marines whom had served with Shaun, to form a guard of honour to pay respects to Lev, who was taken too soon, but who lived his life with bravery and determination till its end.”