Horse-drawn carriage conveys legendary Wolverhampton shopkeeper known as 'Mr Paul' to his final rest
A horse-drawn carriage carried Gurdas Ram's body through Wolverhampton's streets, as people gathered to pay their respects to the much-missed former shopkeeper.
The funeral of Gurdas Ram, a much-loved former shopkeeper in the Wolverhampton community, took place today (Friday, March 6).
Gurdas and his wife Meeto Kaur became known in the Fordhouses community as the owners of Pauls on Harrowby Road, which they took on in the early 1980s.
They were known locally as 'Mr and Mrs Paul' and were renowned in the area, before closing the shop in 2024.
Gurdas died of a heart attack at the age of 84 at New Cross Hospital on February 3.
Earlier today his family and friends bade a final farewell.
The body of Gurdas Ram was carried on a white horse-drawn carriage through Wolverhampton, passing Harrowby Road, Winchester Road, Marsh Lane and Three Tuns Lane before making its way to Bushby Crematorium.
After the service at the crematorium, there was a final prayer at the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple.
There were lots of floral tributes for Gurdas Ram.
The crematorium was packed as people came to pay to their respects; prior to the funeral the family had initially said they were expecting 200 people to come by.
His son Narinder Paul had described his father as "an extremely popular guy, through the shop and not just from the shop with family and friends and everyone, which I did know but I suppose it's been brought to light now".
"I realised he was popular, but it is only now that it is sinking in."
"He was a friend and he was a father to anybody."
Gurdas is survived by his wife, three children (Narinder Paul, Mukesh Paul and Kamla Devi) and two grandchildren.
