THE life of a Cockney plumber with a heart of gold has been celebrated in Old Town.

More than 80 people packed out the Roaring Donkey pub in Albert Street to pay tribute to Robbie Chippington, who died on October 1 aged 63 after a four-month battle with lung cancer.

Horse drawn black carriages led the funeral procession to Kingsdown crematorium yesterday, before the Frank Abrams jazz band turned the mood to one of celebration.

Tony Harris, 58, met Robbie in the Roaring Donkey in 1969.

He said: "From the first time I met Robbie I knew he was larger than life.

"He has cost me two weddings and a funeral, but I could tell you so many stories about him."

Tony, Robbie and friend Brian Kibblewhite formed a trio of workmates who did jobs around the Swindon area throughout the 1970s.

Tony said: "Brian died of lung cancer a few years ago, but during our time together we were inseparable.

"I had come down from my home in Middlesbrough and Brian and Robbie were from the East End.

"They were classic Londoners with a sense of humour and a love of a party."

Robbie married in England, but then divorced and moved to America.

It was at his Las Vegas wedding that friend Paul Langsbury remembers a surreal evening.

He said: "He didn't have a penny but was getting married at Cupid's Chapel.

"As we got ready, the music player broke, and so we had to do it ourselves.

"I was a witness, and me and Tony hummed Here Comes The Bride behind the couple as they walked down the aisle."

At another one of his weddings Robbie hired a Rolls Royce with his initials on the number plate, and expensive goods were a big part of his life.

Tony said: "He was the first one of us to own an 18-carat gold Rolex in 1970, which was long before we knew they were fashionable.

"It just sums up his character. He loved things that were a little bit flash.

"But he didn't have any enemies, because the charisma of his personality just overwhelmed people."

Old Town electrician Paul Soley worked with Robbie over the last five years.

He said: "He was really generous and a very loyal business partner.

"We would always send work each other's way because it was a good relationship we had."