These powerful photos capture the moment ambulance crew bowed their heads in silence and paid their respects to their popular work colleague who died within weeks of a cancer diagnosis.

Ely Standard: Colleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby WoodColleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby Wood (Image: Robert Salmon)

Staff at Ely ambulance station arranged for traffic to be stopped as the hearse made its way through the city centre and then on to Cambridge Crematorium where family and friends said their final farewells to paramedic Lance Cox.

Ely Standard: Colleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby WoodColleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby Wood (Image: Robert Salmon)

The 42 year old was diagnosed with stomach cancer in April.

Ely Standard: Traffic is stopped for the funeral of popular paramedic Lance Cox, of Sutton, who was based at Ely ambulance station.Traffic is stopped for the funeral of popular paramedic Lance Cox, of Sutton, who was based at Ely ambulance station. (Image: Archant)

His ‘green family’ of ambulance work colleagues joined forces to say their final good byes to him. They raised more than £3,700 for his wife Claire and four year old daughter Pip.

Ely Standard: Colleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby WoodColleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby Wood (Image: Robert Salmon)

Chris Murkin, duty locality officer at Ely ambulance station described Lance as: “A really unassuming person, he never made a fuss, just got on with things.

Ely Standard: Colleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby WoodColleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby Wood (Image: Robert Salmon)

“He was a very popular work colleague, if every ambulance station across the country was full of Lance Cox’s, they would just run themselves. “He was polite, articulate and kind and an all round good chap to have around.”

Ely Standard: Colleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby WoodColleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby Wood (Image: Robert Salmon)

Claire Dunham said on setting up a Just Giving page for Lance’s family in June: “Lance in my eyes is a legend and not just my work colleague but my best friend and family.

Ely Standard: Colleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby WoodColleagues pay tribute Ely paramedic Lance Cox PHOTO: Ruby Wood (Image: Robert Salmon)

“I worked with Lance for a number of years, we have shared many happy moments and many sad moments, given the nature of our job.

“Lance worked tirelessly for the past 10 years to save lives and help people in need, in their time of need.”

Lance, of Sutton, was a paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, based at Ely Station, saving lives and helping many people in and around the local community since 2009.

He was also the crew member who carried out blue light training assessments at the Ely ambulance station.