SPORTS personalities Peter Allis and Cliff Morgan were among 120 family and close friends who attended the funeral of the UK's top sports writer Ian Wooldridge OBE.

The intentionally low-key funeral service at St Mary Magdalene Church, New Milton, was followed by private burial in the town's Gore Road Cemetery.

Following that his widow Sarah had invited guests to "raise a glass or two to Ian" at the New Milton Cricket Club's headquarters which he had opened in 2002.

A memorial service will be held in London during the summer.

The son of staunch methodist parents Edmund and Bertha Wooldridge, Ian Wooldridge was born at Wootton Post Office near New Milton. After attending Brockenhurst County High School and obtaining School Certificatres in English and art he got a job on the New Milton Advertiser where he first earned 10s a week.

During his National Service he was in the Royal Navy and learned Russian so he could monitor shipping movements.

He later returned to the Advertiser and then went on to write for the Bournemouth Times, News Chronicle and Sunday Dispatch before moving on to the Daily Mail for which he wrote right up until his death at the age of 75 after a long battle with cancer.

He won many awards and was made an OBE for services to sports journalism.

His coffin was borne into the church by six members of the Navy's Portsmouth Field Gun Crew and the choir from St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, was provided courtesy of the Daily Mail.

Sport was represented by friends golfing commentator Peter Allis and former Welsh rugby international Cliff Morgan. Old friends included local councillor John Hutchins who had played cricket with him and other civic dignitaries.