ARTHUR Holmes OAM will be laid to rest today (Wednesday), following a service at All Saints Anglican Church in Byangum Rd in Murwillumbah at 1pm.

Mr Holmes passed away peacefully last Thursday at Murwillumbah Hospital aged 69, after a year-long battle with cancer.

The funeral is expected to attract a large number of family, friends and admirers of Mr Holmes to the church.

Mr Holmes was best known for his work as president of the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts and his tireless support for its performers and their families.

Mr Holmes spent nearly 30 years working at the South Tweed Preschool and retired in 2004.

In 1999 Mr Holmes was presented with a Children's Week Education award at Parliament House in Sydney, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to the welfare of children and young people in the community.

Recently, Mr Holmes received an Order of Australia Award for his service to the performing arts and to the community of Murwillumbah

Mr Holmes leaves behind wife Margaret, children John and Frankie, Andrew and Martine, grandchildren Sarah, Harrison and Cooper and mother-in-law Margaret "Peg" Ridley.

The family requested no flowers be brought, however, a donation to the Murwillumbah Hospital Coffee Shop would be gratefully accepted.