A blue and white carnival as friends and fans say farewell
IT was billed as a “Great British Send-Off” - and that’s just how it turned out.
The funeral of Mark Winkless - a reformed football hooligan who was chasing a dream of making it as an actor - took place in Leicester at the weekend.
And from the beginning, it was plain it was going to be different, an unashamedly celebratory affair including a carnival-style parade, complete with dancers and drummers.
Friends and family gathered outside the King Power Stadium, home of Mark’s beloved Leicester City, from 9.30am on Saturday to pay their respects to the 40-year-old.
Many had answered the family’s call to turn up in the blue of the Foxes and a number let off a series of blue smoke flares.
His coffin was then carried on a truck along Narborough Road to Braunstone, where he lived, and then on to the estate’s park, where the carnival-style celebration continued.
A large number of well-wishers followed the funeral cortege from the ground, while others came out of their homes as it made its way through the estate and into its park.
From there, people moved on to Gilroes Cemetery for the funeral service.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a maximum of 70 people were able to enter the chapel to take part in the service.
Members of Mark’s family gave eulogies, and a number of friends also addressed the congregation.
People left the chapel to the stirring sound of the Post Horn Gallop a City fans’ favourite.
Other friends and well-wishers remained outside.
A wake was held at Oadby Town Football Club, in Wigston Road.
Mark died at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Tuesday, May 25, and an inquest is being held into the cause.
Elvis Hopkins, a life-long friend of Mark’s, organised the funeral and events surrounding it.
He said the event had been named the Great British Send-Off.
Speaking ahead of the funeral, he “He was one in a million. He loved to be the centre of attention and being outspoken and outrageous.
“He used to do the football hooliganism, but he really turned it around and did a lot of charity work later, and was acting, doing his first film.”
Mark appeared in Channel Four’s No Offence, and his life story featured in a bareknuckle boxing docusaid: mentary. Shortly before he died he completed filming on The Methodists, a film made in Leicester and which had given him his first leading role.