Sir Peter Blake will be farewelled in a 1000-year-old church overlooking the water in the tiny English village of Emsworth, Hampshire, on Friday (Sat morning NZT).
The church was chosen for its special connection with the Blake family by Lady Pippa Blake a few days after the Kiwi yachting legend was
gunned down by river pirates on his yacht Seamaster as it lay at anchor near the mouth of the Amazon River, Brazil.
The Thomas A Beckett church can seat only 300 and more than three times that number was expected, said Canon Douglas Caiger, a close personal friend of Sir Peter's who will lead the service.
A marquee will be set up to take the overflow and Sir Peter is likely to be buried in the nearby cemetery.
Canon Caiger said Sir Peter was "one of us".
"He was a lovely person, a gentle giant. He moved amongst us with absolutely no side. He was everybody's friend."
Canon Caiger said it was especially tragic that Sir Peter was killed as he tried to help others and the entire village was in shock.
Canon Caiger said the tiny but very beautiful country church did not lend itself to such a large occasion.
"But it was the church Pippa wanted. It was very precious to them both. It is a church by the waterside in the harbour and it had enormous sentimental value," Canon Caiger said.
Emsworth undertaker Paul Lee-Bapty said mourners in the marquee would be able to follow the service on an audio visual link.
Police had agreed to close roads as mourners arrived and Sir Peter's body was brought in to the church and later taken to the nearby cemetery.
Mr Lee-Bapty said the town had very strong sailing and naval links. Yesterday he took a book of remembrance to the Emsworth Sailing Club for local sailors and friends of Sir Peter to sign.
"The general feeling was one of being very numbed and in total shock at the loss of a very fine sailor and a very fine man," Mr Lee-Bapty said.
Details of the service were not expected be finalised for another 24 hours when Lady Pippa Blake discussed arrangements with Canon Caiger and Mr Lee-Bapty.
- NZPA
