‘TO BE BORN A GENT IS AN ACCIDENT TO DIE AS ONE IS AN ACHIEVEMENT’
Hundreds at funeral of ‘Boomer’s father’
FAMILY and hundreds of friends said farewell to ‘Boomer’s dad’ Errol Yorke at his funeral yesterday.
There was a standing ovation at the end of the packed-out service to honour a man who had become synonymous with Port Vale.
Errol was a familiar face over the last 25 years at Vale Park where he was helper to his son Gavin, who dons the Boomer mascot suit not only for matches, but also for visits to schools, hospitals and charities.
While Boomer entertained supporters, Errol made sure no child who wanted to say hello to the mascot was overlooked.
News of the 68-year-old’s death had been marked by a minute’s applause from both sets of supporters at Port Vale’s home game with Stoke City in the Checkatrade Trophy a fortnight ago.
At the service at Carmountside Crematorium, family and friends were joined by Port Vale owner and chairman Norman Smurthwaite, chief executive Colin Garlick, football advisor John Rudge, longserving groundsman Steve Speed, Vale Foundation Trust manager Tom Sherratt and chair Carol Shanahan, as well as a number of other colleagues including former club secretary Bill Lodey.
The service was conducted by civil celebrant Colin Robertson, who pwicithurseo: explained that Errol, from Baddeley Green, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2011 and, after years in remission, was told he was suffering brain cancer this year.
He read out a tribute from Errol’s family – wife Sandra and children Julie and Gavin – who said: “Throughout his illness he always remained positive and proud. He was a fighter to the end, which was an inspiration to everyone who knew him.”
Errol met Sandra in 1966 and the ‘best friends and soulmates’ married in 1969. He worked in the pottery industry but would eventually become a meter reader, a job he loved because it enabled him to meet the public and socialise.
Tributes paid to Errol since his death, on November 30, have described him as ‘a true gentleman,’ ‘selfless’ and ‘positive’.
Much of this was in his role as ‘Boomer’s dad’, assisting son Gavin who has suffered health problems including having a stroke and operations to remove brain tumours.
Errol’s love of Port Vale was reflected as his coffin was draped in a Vale shirt and scarf, and the club’s unofficial anthem ‘The Wonder of You’ was played at the start of the service.
Many friends wore Vale shirts and scarves to the funeral. Before the service itself, the procession had driven past Vale Park where supporters had gathered to applaud and pay their respects to the hugely popular Vale fan.
The family tribute added: “They say to be born a gentleman is an accident, but to die as one is an achievement.”