THE Review is sad to announce that it has lost one of its long-serving newspaper deliverers and supporters.

Mark Prince, from Bulwark, died after a long illness on February 17, at the age of 57, and two copies of the paper he loved were placed with him in his coffin.

Mark’s friend and former partner, Sue Lea, told the Review: “Mark was a happy, loving and caring person. He would do anything for anybody and he really enjoyed delivering the Review. He was originally from Mansfield and, when he moved to Chepstow and began delivering the paper in 2013, he found it was a great way to get to know the area and to find out where places were. He delivered along Hardwick Hill, in the town centre and sometimes in Sedbury, but he had to stop delivering in 2016 due to a bad back and he really missed it.”

Mark served as a chef in the British Army and saw active service during the Falklands Conflict.

“He didn’t talk about it much as it brought back bad memories,” Sue said. “But he never lost his love of cooking.

“When I met Mark he was living in Weston-super-Mare and he moved to Chepstow to be with me. He had no family as his parents died when he was a child, but he loved football. He was a life-long Mansfield Town supporter and I used to take him to see them play in Newport, which he really loved.”

A service of celebration for Mark took place at Langstone Vale Crematorium on Friday (March 16).

Jo Hume of Ian Watts and Son Independent Funeral Directors, Monmouthshire, said: “As mourners left the chapel crematorium, the Last Post was sounded. Mark’s friends planned the very touching service and he will always be remembered as a generous, friendly and loving gentleman.”