NOT many believed him but a retired publican from Felixstowe was really called Felix Stow.The aptly named man who ran the Half Moon pub during the 1970's has died at the age of 89.

NOT many believed him but a retired publican from Felixstowe was really called Felix Stow.

The aptly named man who ran the Half Moon pub during the 1970's has died at the age of 89.

His family and friends paid their last respects to him at his funeral held at St Mary's Church, Walton.

Mr Stow retired from the seaside pub in 1978 and was a well-known popular man.

He was brought up in Ipswich and tried his hand at the furniture business before becoming a landlord for the Tolly Cobbold pub on High Road.

He then went on to work as a car marshal for the ferry company Townsend Thoresen and later for P&O at Felixstowe.

Mr Stow had many problems getting people to believe that he was Felix Stow of Felixstowe and regularly had to show his driving licence to prove that he was not joking.

Although he retired more than 20 years ago at 65, the pub regulars still fondly remember him.

Maurice Haskell said, "Felix told me that he got his name quite simply because his father thought it would be funny to call the young Stow, Felix.

"Felix used to be a chauffeur and on one occasion he got stopped by the police and asked where he was going. Felixstowe was the reply, what's your name, Felix Stow was the reply, the police were not amused."

Others remember him for his slow but sure crib playing skills and as being an old fashioned landlord and a good chap.

Les Roberts, another regular, said, "Felix was one of the loveliest men God gave breath to", while John Hazlewood remembered him as being: "Very friendly, a good darts player, told a good joke".

He married Flo in 1956 and had a daughter, Dianne Elizabeth and two grandchildren Daniel and Charm.

Mr Stow died at his home in Walton on July 8.