A LLANDUDNO man who gave a warm welcome to shoppers will be given a fond farewell from friends, family and colleagues today.
David Banister, who worked as a greeter at Llandudno's Asda store for 17 years, died last week at Glan Clwyd hospital.
A family service will be held at the Bron y Nant Crematorium, Mochdre today (Wednesday) at 11.30am. A memorial service for David will then be held at the Gloddaeth United Church at 2pm.
The hearse bearing his coffin will take a detour into the Asda car park at about 11am to give his former colleagues the chance to say goodbye.
David's wife Irene Banister said: "He'd thoroughly enjoy that – he'd be laughing his socks off. We're really happy that Asda agreed to that."
She added that David had been a loving stepfather to her three children.
"I brought three children and we now have six grandchildren. He embraced the family as if they were his own."
She added: "He was everybody's friend."
69-year-old David started work with the store in 1994 as a greeter. He continued in his role when the store moved to the former Ysgol John Bright site in 2004, before retiring in June last year due to ill health.
Derek Cross, community life champion at the store, worked alongside David and described him as an affable colleague who made a point of talking to everyone.
Mr Cross said: "He was in the old store and I worked alongside him. He was great - he had a sense of humour and he knew everybody. We would always joke about it and say he should stop knowing people so we could get some work done. Everybody knew him.
"It's shocked a lot of people - it's really rare you see so many people taken aback like that. He was not just a colleague, but a good friend."
Prior to his work at Asda, David had also been a manager at the town branch of the Woolwich building society. He had also been a member of the sailing club during the 70s and 80s, as well as the Round Table and the Colwyn Bay Ham Radio club.
Llandudno Mayor Cllr Myra Wigzell also paid tribute to his work.
She said: "He was always extremely pleasant. He always chatted to everybody, and he was a very friendly face to a great many people."
David leaves wife Irene, step-children John, Julie and Marie, and six grandchildren.
The family have requested that any donations left in David's memory be given to St David's Hospice.