Pete Marquis family say funeral will be 'massive' with plans for televised screening, marquee & wristbands

Hundreds of people are expected to turn out to pay their respects to Preston businessman and philanthropist Pete Marquis when he is laid to rest this Saturday.

Pete’s sisters Carol and Alison have confirmed his funeral will be open to everyone, with friends, family and members of the public invited to attend the service or line the route of his final journey through Clifton and Treales.

The beloved 56-year-old died suddenly at his home at Bryars Farm in Lea following a suspected heart attack on Friday, October 16. He was an immensely popular figure in Preston and beyond, and widely respected for his fundraising for local charities and good causes.

“This will be a funeral on a massive scale”

Pete will be laid to rest at 1pm on Saturday, November 7, at St John the Evangelist Church, also known as Lund Church, near the village of Clifton.

In a message confirming the arrangements, Pete’s sister Carol said hundreds are expected to attend his funeral service to pay their respects. She said the funeral is not private and everyone is welcome to attend or line the route as Pete’s hearse passes some of his favourite places on its way to the service.

However, wristbands will be issued to close family, friends and employees to allow them to be seated inside St John the Evangelist Church and the marquee erected outside, where the service will be screened.

Carol said: “My sister Alison and I have decided to issue wrist bands to very close family, friends and employees so that they can be seated in the church and marquee erected outside with televised screening.

“Pete’s funeral is NOT private and everyone can attend. We are not stopping anyone from attending but we must advise you that this will be a funeral on a massive scale and there will be hundreds of people there to pay their respects.”

Wristband arrangements for funeral and wake

Pete’s wishes were for his wake to be held at The Hand and Dagger Inn next to the Lancaster Canal at the junction of Treales Road and Station Road.

Due to the size of the venue, only those with a blue or yellow wristband will be invited back to the pub for the wake following the funeral.

The family has stressed that people without wristbands are still welcome to attend the funeral and pay their respects, but the wristbands will be needed for seating in the church and marquee and entry to the wake.

Pete’s final journey through Clifton

The cortege will begin at Pete’s home at Bryars Farm, off Lea Lane, before passing Moss House Farm and Stanley Lodge Farm.

It will then travel along Treales Road, from The Derby Arms to The Hand and Dagger Inn.

Pete’s hearse will then be transferred onto his low loader for the final leg of his journey, travelling along Station Road and through his home village of Clifton before reaching St John the Evangelist Church, also known as Lund Parish Church, where he will be laid to rest.

His sisters Alison and Carol said they would be grateful to anyone who wanted to line the roads.

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

“Our Pete’s final drive will be around everything so special to him, and if you would like to line the route that would be extremely special,” added Carol.

“Thank you to all his wonderful friends and acquaintances. We all loved Pete so much,” they said in a joint statement as they thanked everyone who has offered support and sent messages of comfort following Pete’s death.

Tributes to a ‘local legend’

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

The Preston businessman and director of Pete Marquis Contractors 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.

His death was met with widespread tributes, with many describing him as a “local legend” and a true gentleman whose generosity had touched countless lives.

Funeral arrangements

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Billingtons Funeral Directors in Kirkham.

In a funeral notice, the directors said Pete was a much-loved brother to Alison and Carol, father to Megan and uncle to James, Oliver, Holly, Tom and Jack.

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.