MORE than 1000 people crammed into St Joseph’s Catholic Church in NSW’s Cessnock yesterday to farewell Trevor Drayton, a scion of the Hunter Valley wine aristocracy and a driving force in the industry.

Mr Drayton, who died in an explosion at the family-owned winery, was honoured with a full traditional Catholic memorial service filled with ceremony, tears and laughter.

A senior figure in the Australian church, Cardinal Edward Cassidy, gave a homily and led the Prayers of Intercession. He said this “dear friend and highly respected member of Hunter Valley society” had, like a beautiful summer, left many fond memories of joy and love that would help to overcome the shock and grief since his death.

“Let us not forget the many wonderful things we have shared and the friendship and strength he brought to so many,” Cardinal Cassidy said.

“He was a simple, considerate, generous and loving man at the same time as being highly successful in business and respected in the valley and far beyond.”

Bishop of Maitland Michael Malone paid tribute to Mr Drayton’s support for the Two Bishops Trust, a program to help the jobless get work in wineries.

Local federal member Joel Fitzgibbon read a statement from the Drayton family that recalled Mr Drayton’s typical country childhood and the times shared with his three brothers; his love of fishing and a good laugh.

The Labor MP passed on the sympathies of Kevin Rudd, who he said understood and appreciated the contribution Mr Drayton had made to the wine and tourism industries.

“Farewell mate, you will be missed by very, very many,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Senior wine industry figure and friend Bruce Tyrrell called Mr Drayton a man of high intelligence with an inquiring mind, who, because of his gentle, unassuming nature and shy country charm, was “impossible to yell at”. He said Mr Drayton had been happier in the past few years than ever before, travelling a great deal and acquiring friends all over the world.

“He never boasted about his achievements,” Mr Tyrrell said.

“He never pushed himself forward, never went chasing the limelight.

“It was his style to quietly slip into the life of someone who needed assistance and then quietly slip away. He never did anything for public recognition. He was a great bloke who I trusted implicitly.”

After the service, as a silent, respectful crowd gathered at the front of the church, his tearful parents watched as the coffin was carried to the hearse by his three brothers and others. As it was loaded into the hearse and the recessional hymn On Eagles’ Wings echoed inside the church, two Westpac rescue helicopters flew overhead in a tribute to the contributions Mr Drayton had made to the rescue services and community organisations.

The Draytons have been farming in the Hunter Valley since the 1850s, but during Trevor Drayton’s life he saw the area transformed from a picturesque but rundown area to where a checkerboard of multi- million-dollar vineyards dot the land.

The funeral of the other man killed, Edgar Orgo, 57, will be held at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Kurri Kurri, today.