![Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY]( "Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")
Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)
Mourners packed into the Great Yarmouth Minster on Friday afternoon for his funeral as they said goodbye to one of the town's great champions for the final time.
![Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY]( "Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")
Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)
Mr Childs was carried into the church in a blue boat-shaped coffin by pallbearers wearing the traditional blue cap the 71-year-old was regularly seen in.
![Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY]( "Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")
Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)
Following his death last month people queued up to remember a man who was "everyone's friend" and "one of life's gentlemen".
![Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY]( "Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")
Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)
Mr Childs and his wife Karen were best known for running the Potteries in Blackfriars Road, a hub for all things quirky and maritime.
![Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY]( "Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")
Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)
Mr Childs was also responsible for launching one of the town's most popular celebrations - The Maritime Festival.
![Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY]( "Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")
Ernie Childs' sons, Marc and Lee, with friends and family, wearing some of Ernie's caps, ready to carry his coffin at his funeral at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)
The flag at The Minster was flown at half mast in tribute to the 71-year-old who leaves a lasting legacy in Great Yarmouth.
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