Funeral details for much-loved Preston businessman and philanthropist Pete Marquis

The funeral of much-loved Preston businessman and philanthropist Pete Marquis will take place this week.

The beloved 56-year-old died suddenly at his home at Bryars Farm in Lea following a suspected heart attack on Friday, October 16.

Pete will be laid to rest this Saturday (November 7) with a service and interment at 1pm at St John the Evangelist Church, also known as Lund Church, near the village of Clifton.

The cortege will begin at his home on Bryars Farm, off Lea Lane, and pass Moss House Farm and Stanley Lodge Farm , before travelling along Treales Road from The Derby Arms to The Hand & Dagger Inn.

Pete’s hearse will then be transferred onto his low loader for the final leg of his journey along Station Road and through his home village of Clifton to his final resting place at St John the Evangelist Church (Lund Parish Church).

“I’m sure he’d love to see as many people as possible waving him on his final journey,” said his sister Alison Whalley.

Tributes to a ‘local legend’

News of Pete’s passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from friends, business colleagues and the countless charities, individuals and community groups he supported through his extraordinary fundraising efforts.

Pete devoted more than two decades to raising money for good causes, beginning his fundraising efforts in earnest around 2004. He went on to raise more than £1million through charity auctions, balls, tractor runs and his famous Rola-Cola Christmas Truck, with events often generating tens of thousands of pounds in a single evening.

His fundraising supported a wide range of organisations, including Derian House Children's Hospice, St Catherine's Hospice, Trinity Hospice and the Katy Holmes Trust.

His generosity also extended to local schools and community initiatives, including funding a new play area for Treales Church of England Primary School.

Pete also bought and delivered more than 2,000 Advent calendars each year to children at primary schools across the Fylde area and helped families struggling with the cost of Christmas.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Billingtons Funeral Directors in Kirkham. In a funeral notice, they said Pete was a much-loved brother to Alison and Carol, father to Megan and uncle to James, Oliver, Holly, Tom and Jack, who has sadly died.

Family flowers only are requested, with donations, if desired, going to Treales CE Primary School and/or mental health charity Mind.

Enquiries and donations can be made by calling Billingtons Funeral Directors on 01772 684856.