SCORES of people flocked to say their farewells to a popular landlord who suffered a stroke and lay dying as his regulars celebrated the New Year.
More than 300 people attended the funeral service of 54-year-old Dennis Gregory who had run the Victoria on Manchester Road, Accrington, for the past 10 years.
A police escort led the funeral cortege from the pub on Wednesday. Behind the hearse was Dennis’s Jaguar with its personalised number plate G14 Den carrying close members of his family.
His coffin was carried into Accrington Crematorium by six pallbearer friends.
Described as the host with a host of friends, Dennis collapsed at the pub just after finishing preparing the buffet for the night’s celebrations. He was rushed to the Royal Blackburn Hospital and died on New Year’s Day morning.
Apart from family and friends, the funeral service conducted by his friend the Rev Kevin Logan, vicar of Christ Church with Cannon Street Church, was attended by huge numbers of his regulars.
He leaves a brother Kevin and his wife Gail, sister Kathleen, sister-in-law Val and soul mate and best friend of Sheila. He was also the brother of the late Les.
Arrangements : Hyndburn Funeral Services.
