Grandfather denied tombstone tribute

Town hall chiefs have refused the final wish of a grandfather who wanted to have the words “the little bugger did his best” on his gravestone.

Maurice Brown, 87, who died of cancer in August, wrote a poem for relatives to find. It read: “When I am laid to rest, with a tombstone upon my chest, the six words I’d like to see are the little bugger did his best.”

Officials in charge of the cemetery in Ilkeston, Derbys, also refused “bogger” and “beggar”, so his grave is currently unmarked.

Mr Brown’s grandson, Lewis Ryan, 20, said: “He’d probably say the people blocking this were all daft buggers – and he’d be dead right.”