GOVERNMENT leaders, corporate figures and banking bigwigs all made their way on Sunday to the wake of Mr Richard Stanley, the late DBS chief executive, to pay their last respects.

Mr Stanley died on Saturday morning, at the age of 48, after a short battle with leukaemia.

In the Regency Room of the Singapore Casket on Lavender Street, the mood was sombre and sad.

Mr Stanley's wife, Ms Koh Li Peng, was seen talking to guests but did not want to be interviewed by the media. Mr Stanley is also survived by three children.

Staff who had come to the wake included managing directors and receptionists. They said that this was a sad farewell they wanted to be a part of and traded stories as they reminisced fondly about the affable man.

Association of Banks in Singapore director Ong-Ang Ai Boon said: 'He was very knowledgeable. Some people can do, some people can't do. He could do.'

Mr Stanley's doctor, consultant haematologist Freddy Teo, called him a man 'with no airs'.

The cortege will leave for the funeral mass at Church of St Teresa at Kampong Bahru Road this afternoon.

It will pass the DBS building at 1, Shenton Way, where Singapore staff will give him one final send-off.

And at 2.45pm, all employees at the bank, across various locations including India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, will observe a minute of silence.