Thanks a million, Colin
Club tributes at funeral of lotto winner
THE funeral cortege for EuroMillions winner Colin Weir paid an emotional visit to his beloved Partick Thistle ahead of his funeral yesterday.
A hearse carrying the lifelong Jags fan paused outside Glasgow’s Firhill Stadium as players, staff and fans of the club gave a round of applause.
In 2011 Mr Weir and his then wife Chris won a £161million jackpot, which was then Britain’s biggest lottery win.
He died from kidney failure and sepsis on December 27, aged 72, only weeks after finalising a deal that helped secure Partick Thistle’s future.
It made the former STV cameraman the club’s majority shareholder and he had pledged to give his 55 per cent stake to a fans’ group by March this year.
Mr Weir, from Largs, Ayrshire, had previously invested some of his huge win in the club, which saw its youth wing branded the Thistle Weir Youth Academy and a section of the ground named the Colin Weir Stand.
Yesterday, the club paid its final respects to Mr Weir. As the cortege paused outside Firhill, players, staff and fans lining the street applauded as a wreath in the club’s famous red and yellow colours was placed in the hearse.
Jags fan Alex Napier said: ‘I met him on the stand one day. He was just such a nice guy and he’s got Thistle at heart.
‘He couldn’t help it, he was such a likeable fella. I’m just sad for this day, but he has left the club on a sound foot and left his legacy behind him. He has kept the doors open. We just have to carry on and keep up the good work. ‘He always will be a legend.’ The cortege continued to Partick Burgh Hall in the city for a funeral service before a private cremation.
Following their huge win the Weirs described how they were so excited they could not sleep. They then took a break in Brighton as they contemplated what to do with their fortune.
In 2013 they set up The Weir Charitable Trust. They donated £3.5million to the independence campaign in the run-up to the 2014 referendum and over the years gave the SNP millions.
After 38 years of marriage and raising two children, the couple confirmed they would ‘amicably’ divorce in April last year.
Former Partick Thistle chairman
Jacqui Low said Mr Weir’s passing united the team’s supporters with Dundee United fans at their match on Saturday.
She tweeted: ‘So much is said negatively about football fans.
‘But today, in marking the passing of Colin Weir, not only were Partick Thistle fans applauding him loudly but so were Dundee United FC fans. Thank you all, it meant a lot to me and other friends of Colin at the game.’