POP legend Davy Jones paid a sad visit to Accrington this week for the funeral of his brother-in-law Ken Wilkinson.
Davy, 59, who sang with pop group the Monkees, flew over from Orlando, USA, for the funeral of Mr Wilkinson, who had acted as his security guard and personal assistant on tours of the USA in the band's Sixties heyday.
He said: "When I first met Ken I decided I liked him right from the start.
"He was a very intelligent and well-read man with a dry sense of humour and we were very close. He was always very good to me.
"He did a lot of painting but he didn't do it for money. He just did it because he liked it.
"He came with us a lot when we were on tour and he always had it just right in everything he did.
"I remember him saying to me: 'How much is enough?' But I knew he wasn't talking about money. He was talking about other things in life."
Davy was born in Manchester and appeared in Coronation Street before answering an advert to join the Monkees, the first manufactured pop group, which had enormous success both in this country and America.
At the height of their fame young fans would camp outside sister Hazel's house in Church when it was rumoured he was paying a visit.
Mr Wilkinson, of Cranbourne Drive, Church, died in Blackburn Royal Infirmary aged 67, leaving Hazel and a son Robert.
Over the years he made many friends in the USA, Holland and Japan through Monkees fan clubs.
He served with the Grenadier Guards and was a Lancashire police officer for 30 years until his retirement 17 years ago.
He served as a motorcyclist in the traffic department at Accrington and later became an accident prevention officer.
Accrington Crematorium was packed for Monday's funeral. So many family, friends and former work colleagues turned up that many had to stand in the lobby to hear the service conducted by the Rev Steve Thomasson.
