GAZETTE & HERALD: Friends and family were overcome with emotion at the Salvation Army's Citadel at Foghamshire in Chippenham on Monday, as they celebrated the life of Kevin Woodward, who died of a suspected heroin overdose three weeks ago.

They described the 37-year-old, who died outside his flat in Field View, Chippenham on September 11, as a man who had always been there for them.

More than 70 people attended the ceremony, with many talking about his caring and considerate nature.

The ceremony began with photographs of Mr Woodward from throughout his life being shown.

His friends said he was hospitable towards everyone, always tried to help people as best he could, and made them smile, and he loved punk music.

Mr Woodward's friends had previously told the Gazette that he had been clean from drugs for a year.

They said the tragedy happened on the same day as the 18th birthday of Mr Woodward's son, whom he rarely saw.

Mr Woodward, a former pupil of Chippenham's Sheldon School, returned to his flat around 5.45pm and told his friends he was going to take heroin. Soon after, he fell over and went blue.

His friends Dave Yalbraith, 32, and Shane Haines, 35, tried desperately to revive him for what they described as more than half an hour while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

They told the Gazette they tried to stop Mr Woodward taking the drugs but he was determined to do it.

Captain Mary Wolfe, minister at the Salvation Army in Chippenham, conducted the service and said Kevin will be sorely missed.

She said: "He was a gentleman despite his looks and sometimes people judge by looks, but anybody who got to know Kevin could not help but like him.

"He used to come in twice a week which was the two days the Citadel was open.

"He would come for a hot meal and have a change of clothes and he would play table tennis or read the papers and get involved in everything that went on.

"He would chat and laugh with the volunteers and sometimes talk about his own feelings and he was also the one that all his friends looked at like a father figure. He brought them together."

Ms Wolfe said Mr Woodward had previously had an addiction but that it never affected the way he behaved.

"People change their personalities in addiction but it did not change his. He was very well mannered and very polite and always tried to help people.

"Someone came in who used to work in the Sue Ryder shop and he came to pay his respects because Kevin was so polite.

"I think it seems that he was happy with his lot and he never blamed anyone else for the situation he was in.

"A lot blame their circumstances but I never heard him complain.

"He was very musical and it's a shame that was not channelled in a different way.

"But it also emphasises what addiction can do.

"I have conducted many services in my years as a minister and never had a reaction like I have had with Kevin's. There were so many people here who wanted to say nice things about him."

Ms Wolfe said she decided the service would be a great way to allow people to grieve and celebrate Mr Woodward's life.

"It was to help his friends who were lost.

"I spoke to his parents and I said we were going to have this sort of service and said it would be nice if they could come.

"I think it probably helped them to realise how well thought of Kevin was.

"We loved Kevin. He was a lovable person."

Mr Woodward's funeral took place earlier in the day at the crematorium at Semington.