Mourners saddle up for Western farewell
There was a Wild West send-off for a cowboy enthusiast who had his coffin carried through town in a horse-drawn carriage during his funeral procession.
Michael Whittaker, who was a popular Wild West show re-enactor and memorabilia collector, died from a heart attack aged 76.
More than 200 people turned out for his funeral in Brierley Hill on Thursday, many having donned Western outfits to give him a fitting goodbye. Staff from the funeral director's also dressed as cowboys as they rode the horse-drawn carriage.
Michael's coffin was carried in to the theme music from the Magnificent Seven and a saddle created in a flower wreath featured on the day.
Some of his vast collection of memorabilia was placed around the altar at St Michael's Church in Bell Street South.
Michael's brother Tony, aged 71, said the funeral had been a fantastic send-off for his older brother.
He said: "It was fantastic. As the horses came through Brierley Hill they behaved absolutely perfectly.
"Then we had the theme tune from the Magnificent Seven playing as the coffin was taken into the church.
"A lot of Mike's memorabilia had been prepared at the front of the church near the altar and the coffin was pushed into the memorabilia – that was beautiful.
"It was definitely a funeral with a difference – I've never seen anything like it."
Hymns including Abide With Me and Old Rugged Cross were sung during the service, with Tony saying 'you could've heard a pin drop' in the church.
When Michael was born, doctors said he was only likely to live until 16 as he had a twisted lung.
However, Tony – a local businessman and helicopter pilot – said his brother had beaten the odds.
"He surprised us all by living to 76," Tony said.
Michael was a huge fan of old cowboy movies and his collection included a signed book by a genuine Wild West legend, showman Buffalo Bill.
He also had a picture of himself with American actor Clayton Moore, the American former circus acrobat who played The Lone Ranger on TV and starred in dozens of Western movies in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
Amongst his massive haul of memorabilia there were dozens of Native American figurines, cushions, tins, portraits, replica rifles and boxes of Western movie videos.
Michael and Tony's cousin Ron Didlock, aged 68, said the offbeat nature of the funeral summed up Michael's personality.
"He had a wicked sense of humour did Mike," retired bus driver Ron said. "He always used to have a grin on his face and you knew something was coming.
"He'd look at you with the toothy smile that he had and then he'd make a joke.
"Mike was a great character.
"The funeral was something a bit out of the ordinary and that really was a perfect send-off for him."
Somebody has already placed a Stetson on Michael's grave in Addison Road Cemetery. Young and old got in on the funeral's Wild West theme, with Michael's aunty Beatrice Meacham and great-niece Grace Shipley both donning outfits to pay tribute to him.
Quarry Bank vicar Rev David Hoskin gave a speech which highlighted Michael's love of all things Wild West, with Tony saying the tribute was spot-on.
"Everything about the day was amazing."
