Rescue worker's collection wish

Mr Wischhusen was a highly-committed crew member and fund-raiser

A rescue worker's dying wish that his funeral should be used to raise thousands of pounds for the charity he served is to be fulfilled.

Peter Wischhusen, 62, a crew member for the Severn Area Rescue Association (Sara), died after a short illness.

His achievements included raising money towards building a new annex at the Beachley lifeboat station in Chepstow.

Before his death, he asked that a collection be made during his funeral procession to help complete the work.

Mrs Wischhusen's wife Christine said: "[My husband] passed away last week after a very quick illness with leukaemia.

"It was his dying wish to use his funeral as a great opportunity to help raise the remaining £180,000 funding needed to complete the Beachley Lifeboat Station building."

A funeral procession leaves the Beachley station at 1400 BST, with six vehicles and boats Mr Wischhusen helped fund for Sara.

One of the towed boats will carry his coffin to the Cinderford crematorium for his funeral service.

Senior coxwain Ron Harris said after helping to rescue victims during last July's floods in Tewkesbury, Mr Wischhusen worked to replace equipment damaged during the rescue operations.

"Peter went straight in, looking to get us new equipment," he said.

"Eventually, he raised the money to get us three new Land Rovers, plus three new flood boats and their engines.

"He worked hard, his passing has put a very big hole in our organisation."