THE funerals of two stalwart Blues fans who died within days of each other have been announced.

THE funerals of two stalwart Blues fans who died within days of each other have been announced.

Jack Dash, 90, from Martlesham, and Pat Smith, 82, from Grundisburgh, died last week, leaving the club without two of its longest serving supporters.

Mrs Smith had been a Town fan for more than seven decades and passed away last week after a long fight with ill health.

Her funeral will take place at St Mary's Church, Grundisburgh, on Monday and her son Paul will be conducting the service.

Mr Dash, who would have been 91 on December 23, died after falling ill at the wheel of his car on the way home from Saturday's home match against Blackpool. He managed to stop his car as he travelled along Woodbridge Road and avoided involving any other vehicles or pedestrians in the accident.

However last night members of his family said they were saddened that flowers left at the scene of the accident were stolen.

Gillian Jacobsen, his sister-in-law, said: “My daughter went down and laid some flowers and a little note and an hour and a half later when they went past they had gone. The note had been left.

“It's dreadful, but it's the terrible world we live in. It's like robbing from the dead.”

Mrs Jacobsen said that representatives from Ipswich Town Football Club had been in touch and a short tribute would be included in the programme at a forthcoming home game. Mr Dash's funeral will be held at Ipswich Crematorium on Tuesday, December 29.