MOURNERS gathered at Newport’s Jewish cemetery this afternoon to pay tribute to legendary toastmaster Harry Poloway.

According to Jewish tradition the dead should be buried as soon as possible, usually within a day of their death, but about 100 people cancelled plans and travelled from far and wide to share stories and say goodbye to the legendary toastmaster.

So many attended the service the small prayer room was packed to capacity, with mourners spilling out into the area outside the building. Thankfully it was a gloriously sunny afternoon and a pleasant breeze blew through the cemetery as Rabbi Michoel Rose led the service, with prayers and psalms being said in both English and Hebrew.

Calling Mr Poloway “a giant of man” Rabbi Rose said: “He always was graceful and welcoming.

“He thought carefully what to say to bring out the best in people to make them feel valued, to make sure they were not embarrassed or slighted, so that they may feel respected, whether they were the big or the small.

“He never had a bad word to say about anyone and he made all feel comfortable and at ease.”

He also paid tribute to Mr Poloway’s dedication to Judaism, saying: “He was proud of his faith and traditions.

“A great lover of his people, he would strongly defend his people and their values.”

Mr Poloway’s daughter Linda also gave a heartfelt tribute to her father, while friend and biographer Nick Thomas shared some humorous memories of the times they had spent together.

Once the service was complete his simple wooden coffin draped in a black cloth adorned with the Star of David was carried from the prayer room and into the cemetery, where Mr Poloway was buried next to his wife Vicky, who died in 2008, aged 92.

Mourners were invited to take part in the Jewish tradition of helping to bury the coffin with soil, before leaving for a gathering at his former home nearby.

Warm tributes have been paid to Harry Poloway by some og the many people he met over his long career.

Karen Welch, who met Mr Poloway through their work at the electricity board and became close friends with him, called him “a marvellous man”.

“He had so many funny stories and anecdotes to tell he always kept you amused,” she said.

“Everybody who knew him would say the same.

“I was privileged to call him a friend.

“He was always looking forward.

“I think he would say he had a wonderful life.”

Friend and biographer Nick Thomas said Mr Poloway would be “sorely missed”.

“He was a fantastic chap,” he said.

“It’s interesting to see people reflecting on him now.

“Even though the funeral has been arranged at such short notice so many people have moved everything to come down.

“It’s a reflection of how well liked he was.

“His daughter said to me he seemed to have a skill of picking good friends – but that was because he was such a good friend back.”

Newport City Council leader Cllr Debbie Wilcox also paid tribute to Mr Poloway, calling him “a Newport legend in every sense”.

“I was delighted to meet him in 2004 when I first became a councillor and was amazed by the number of famous people he had met,” she said.

“He was always charming and pleasant.

“He was a proud Newportonian and I was proud to know him.”

And former mayor Cllr Matthew Evans called him “extremely inspirational”.

“Civic occasions won’t be the same without him,” he said.

“He was a real character and he’ll be sorely missed.”

Friend Lyndon Booth said: “Almost 47 years to the day my great friend, Harry, brought my wife Judy and new born baby Richard home to The Kings Head Hotel, Newport from the Lydia Beynon Nursing Home.

“Having always remained great friends with Harry and Vicky, we were delighted when Harry officiated at our daughter Sarah’s wedding at St Pierre, Chepstow in 1997.

“Baby Richard, now a London QC who sits as a Recorder on the Wales circuit and our daughter Sarah, global chief of staff for Blackrock Asset Management based in New York, join with us on this sad occasion to remember a very remarkable man and a life well lived.

“We offer our sincere condolences and much love to Linda, Michael and all of Harry’s family.”

Another friend, Alan Darlow, called Mr Poloway “a wonderful man”.

He said: “He was a great man and a good friend and was an important part of Newport.”