Rolls-Royces ferry loved ones to funeral of Paddy Doherty’s nephew

Big Fat Gypsy Weddings star Paddy Doherty shed a tear today after the coffin of his nephew arrived for his funeral following the arrival of his friends and relatives in a huge fleet of 16 white Rolls-Royce Phantom cars.

Mikey Connors’s funeral was held at St Michael’s Church in Ashtead, Surrey, ahead of a ceremony at nearby Epsom Cemetery today, nearly a month after he died in an accident in Thamesmead, South East London.

A life-sized jockey, horse and cart made out of flowers were the centrepiece to the funeral today following Mr Connors’s death aged 32 after hitting a car while riding a horse and cart on the A2016 Eastern Way on July 28. 

Mr Doherty was one of ten pall-bearers who carried the coffin of his nephew after the service. The coffin was held on the shoulders of ten smartly dressed men as a young girl and boy led the procession.

They held a ‘WBC’ boxing belt and a framed photo of Mr Connors kissing a small child. Family members banged on the side of the baby-blue coffin and shouted after ‘Mikey’ and ‘God bless ya’. 

Big Fat Gypsy Weddings star Paddy Doherty sheds a tear as the coffin of his nephew Mikey Connors arrives in Ashtead, Surrey

A girl carries a sign saying 'Love you always, Daddy' into the funeral as Mr Doherty (left) carries the coffin of Mr Connors

A girl carries a sign saying ‘Love you always, Daddy’ into the funeral as Mr Doherty (left) carries the coffin of Mr Connors

Mr Connors, the nephew of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings star Paddy Doherty, was killed when his horse-and-cart was hit by a car

Mr Connors, the nephew of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings star Paddy Doherty, was killed when his horse-and-cart was hit by a car

Two mourners arrive this morning, each carrying an energy drink ahead of the funeral of Mr Connors in Surrey 

Two mourners arrive this morning, each carrying an energy drink ahead of the funeral of Mr Connors in Surrey 

A mourner arrives for the funeral today

Close friends and family arrive this morning for the funeral of the traveller who was killed in a horse and cart accident

Close friends and family arrive this morning for the funeral of the traveller who was killed in a horse and cart accident

A fleet of 16 Rolls Royce Phantom cars arrive at St Michael's Church in Ashtead, Surrey, for the funeral of Mikey Connors

A fleet of 16 Rolls Royce Phantom cars arrive at St Michael’s Church in Ashtead, Surrey, for the funeral of Mikey Connors

A woman arrives for the funeral in Surrey which took place a month after the death of Mr Connor in South East London

Mourners arrive for the funeral of Mr Connors

Two women arrive for the funeral in Surrey which took place a month after the death of Mr Connor in South East London

A woman followed the coffin with a speaker, which played ‘A Place in the Sun’ by Stevie Wonder, followed by ‘Shotgun’ by George Ezra. Some of the crowd sang along, while other pumped the air with their hands.

The coffin was placed inside a white Mercedes hearse as mourners tearfully bid Mr Connors farewell. Mr Doherty leant inside the car and placed his hand on the coffin. He was clearly upset as he steadied himself against the car.

Mr Connor’s horse, Big T, suffered extensive injuries in the accident and was put down by a vet. His brother Simey rushed to the scene of the accident after his brother failed to reach the finishing line following the race.

Speaking about his death at the time, Simey said on Facebook : ‘My heart is in bits over you … I saw you lying on the ground I ran over and got on my knees to beg Jesus and Mary for you to be OK.’

Today, each of the Rolls Royce Phantoms had two light blue flags with the text ‘Mikey Connors, our legend, one in a billion, king of the road’ as they blocked the road on their arrival to the church in Ashtead.

Gypsy men arrived at the church wearing black shirts, tucked-in polo shirts and dark wraparound sunglasses, while high-heeled women turned up with pushchairs – clutching cans of energy drinks and cigarettes.

A view of the grave site of late traveller Mr Connors ahead of his funeral today at Epsom Cemetery in Surrey

A view of the grave site of late traveller Mr Connors ahead of his funeral today at Epsom Cemetery in Surrey

A mourner pushes a pram as she arrives for the funeral in Surrey following Mr Connors's death on July 28

Two women this morning arrive for the funeral

A mourner pushes a pram as others arrive for the funeral in Surrey following Mr Connors’s death on July 28

A tribute picture at Mr Connors' grave site before his funeral today, following his death nearly a month ago in Thamesmead

A tribute picture at Mr Connors’ grave site before his funeral today, following his death nearly a month ago in Thamesmead

Mr Connor’s brother Simey had rushed to the scene of the accident after his brother failed to reach the finishing line

Mr Connor’s brother Simey had rushed to the scene of the accident after his brother failed to reach the finishing line

The funeral comes nearly a month after Mr Connors died in an accident with a car while riding a horse and cart on a road

The funeral comes nearly a month after Mr Connors died in an accident with a car while riding a horse and cart on a road

A boy steps out of one of the white Rolls-Royce Phantoms before the funeral of the traveller who was killed in an accident

A boy steps out of one of the white Rolls-Royce Phantoms before the funeral of the traveller who was killed in an accident

A white Mercedes funeral car then brought Mr Connors’s coffin to the church as around 200 people gathered outside to pay homage before going inside. The entrance to the church was marked by a red carpet and a blue 1977 Bedford pick-up truck.

Inside the classic truck’s window was a small poster dedicated to Mikey, with the text ‘our one in a billion’. The burial is due to take place two-and-a-half miles away, at Epsom and Ewell cemetery.

A lavish send-off – complete with symbolic memories of the racer’s life – was planned. Leading to the grave was a 50ft red carpet – which ran through the site, surrounded by trees and a view of London in the distance.

A large horse and drawn cart stood made of flowers, with a blue wreath and rider made of green flowers – complete with a white helmet and a Nike tick on his breast. 

Friends and relatives posted dozens for Facebook messages paying tribute to Mr Connors following his death last month

Friends and relatives posted dozens for Facebook messages paying tribute to Mr Connors following his death last month

Floral tributes and giant photographs have been left at Epsom Cemetery in Surrey ahead of the funeral today

Floral tributes and giant photographs have been left at Epsom Cemetery in Surrey ahead of the funeral today

One of Mr Connors's friends left a house floral tribute, with the line: 'May you get the best bed in heaven'

One of Mr Connors’s friends left a house floral tribute, with the line: ‘May you get the best bed in heaven’

Mr Connors has been remembered in a series of photographs after he was killed in a accident on his horse and cart

Mr Connors has been remembered in a series of photographs after he was killed in a accident on his horse and cart

There were flowers adorning large photos of Mr Connors and his family – from holidays to Universal Studios to smiling family portraits with Mr Doherty.

Written on one shrine was ‘352 World Record’ – possibly relating to horsecart racing – clearly a major part of Mr Connors’s life.

There was also a small white bungalow of flowers with a black roof and brown trim – written on top was ‘may you get the best bed in heaven’.

Finally, a Rolex watch was made of brown flowers – displaying the time of 2.46, with the date ’21’. 

A collage of photographs put together on a board at Epsom Cemetery this morning ahead of Mr Connors's funeral

A collage of photographs put together on a board at Epsom Cemetery this morning ahead of Mr Connors’s funeral

Floral tributes including photos of Mr Connor have been left by friends and relatives at Epsom Cemetery

These photos and flowers were left at Epsom Cemetery

Floral tributes including photos of Mr Connor have been left by friends and relatives at Epsom Cemetery today

The photographs surround the plot where Mr Connors will be laid to rest at Epsom Cemetery today

The photographs surround the plot where Mr Connors will be laid to rest at Epsom Cemetery today

A red carpet was laid out for mourners at the grave site of Mr Connors this morning in Epsom Cemetery

A red carpet was laid out for mourners at the grave site of Mr Connors this morning in Epsom Cemetery

Paddy Doherty is an Irish former bare-knuckle boxer who rose to fame in the Channel 4 documentary series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty leaves the house after being named winner in the 2011 series of Celebrity Big Brother

Paddy Doherty is an Irish former bare-knuckle boxer who rose to fame in the Channel 4 documentary series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings (left) and later became known for winning Celebrity Big Brother series eight in 2011 (right)

Following Mr Connors’s death, a man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. A police spokesman said: ‘The driver of the car, a 30-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving.

‘Officers from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command are leading the investigation. We are appealing for witnesses to come forward; in particular, motorists who may have dashcam footage.’

Mr Doherty is an Irish former bare-knuckle boxer who rose to fame in the Channel 4 documentary series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and later became known for winning Celebrity Big Brother series eight in 2011.

He was also famously befriended by speaker’s wife Sally Bercow, appearing alongside her in Celebrity Big Brother and starring in reality show When Paddy Met Sally. She later took Mr Doherty and his wife on a tour of Parliament.  



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