A MUCH-loved traveller dad has been given a week-long tour in “six figure” solid gold coffin, as his grieving family plan his burial in a huge marble tomb.
When Frank Thompson died aged 69 from a chest infection “the full family got involved to give him the best possible send off” said a family friend.
They bought a solid gold coffin and a Rolls-Royce took it on a week-long farewell tour of locations in Nottingham and Manchester where Frank had run businesses and tarmac yards, and cemeteries where his friends and family were laid to rest.
They have also commissioned a huge marble tomb which will take a year to build around his coffin, a friend said, at his plot in cemetery in south London .
The friend said they gave him the extravagant send off for hardworking Frank to show the world “there are some really good gypsy travellers “.
The family friend, who declined to reveal the exact cost, said: “The casket is solid gold.
“His son ordered it from abroad. The cost was stupendous – six figures.
“It took weeks to arrive. He’d passed away for nearly a month before we could lay him to rest.”
He added: “It got bigger and bigger as it was happening. First we wanted to do the best casket, then it got to discussing materials for the casket. Then we realised, we don’t have to put him underground – we can do a tomb.
“We’re from a very big gypsy traveller background. He was the head of a very big family, the king of the family – everyone looked up to him.
“The majority of travellers are known for going to the gym, fighting, getting into trouble.
“But Frank taught so many of them to be business-minded and to make a name for yourself by having a nice life and making a good house for your family.
“So we thought, we want to show there are some really good gypsy travellers, we’re not all about fighting and causing trouble.”
Businessman Frank from expanded his father’s tarmacking company to several locations countrywide.
They said: “Frank started off door to door selling driveways, and he built it up doing really nicely, legitimate work. Now, me and Frank’s son run the business .
“He donated a lot to children’s charities, and before he got sick he wanted to build an orphanage for children abroad.
“He was never a flash man, believe it or not. He could have anything he wanted but he’s not flash. He’d be proud of what his sons did for him, and held him as, more than anything else.
“He was lovely, he had a heart of gold. He had the best intentions for everyone.
“He’s made a lot of men clever today with his wisdom, he’s a businessman through and through.”
He died on July 2, leaving behind his wife and children.
The coffin tour began on July 23 and he was laid to rest on July 29.
The marble tomb is being built around the coffin and construction is expected to take around a year.
