Poignant farewell paid to well known Lancashire man carried to his funeral on a lorry
A touching farewell was paid to a Longton legend today who was carried in on a lorry decorated with his late daughter’s image.
The funeral of 74-year-old Alfred William Smith, known as Bill Smith by everyone, was held at St Andrew’s Church in Longton today.
Described as “larger than life” by his family, Bill passed away peacefully in hospital on September 4, leaving behind a daughter called Gemma and two grandchildren whose mother was his eldest daugher Sarah, now deceased.
Originally born in Preston, Billy spent much of his life in Longton, where he called Kitty's Farm home, and he was a well known figure in the village, running a successful haulage company and being famed for his unusual habit of collecting the cow manure that other people wanted removing!
In a touching tribute to his haulage career and his late daughter Sarah, Billy was taken to his funeral in a lorry decorated with her image today.
The lorry was paraded through the village first as part of a funeral cortege led by a gentleman carrying a framed picture of Bill.
The casket was also decorated with a floral wreath spelling out “grandad” and carried in a frame on the lorry which read “REST IN PEACE.”
Speaking during the eulogy, his daughter Gemma said: “Billy was a man whose daughters meant everything to him. No matter what life threw at him, he cracked on. As his health began to decline in his 60s, Billy showed the same strength he had all his life. He carried on even though he was in immense pain.
“Billy has left us, but his work ethic, strength, and the memories we have will remain with us forever. He leaves behind a legacy and is now reunited with Sarah [his eldest daughter] and his great friend Keith.
“Rest in peace, Billy Smith. You were loved, and you will never be forgotten.”