BIG FAT GYPSY FUNERAL
Inside the wacky funeral of ‘father of all travellers’ Simon Doherty
His son invited cameras to capture the preparations into his father's funeral as part of the Channel 5 series Gypsy Kids
A FLEET of Rolls Royce cars were mobilised and hundreds of mourners were gathered to pay a colourful tribute to "the father of all travellers" in a rare glimpse inside preparations for a gypsy funeral.
A new documentary takes viewers inside the extravagant and careful planning that went into the memorial service for Simon Doherty, father of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star, Paddy Doherty.
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He was laid to rest in a custom made coffin coloured in the Irish flag driven around Epsom racecourse.
Paddy, 58, invited cameras to capture the preparations into his father's funeral as part of the Channel 5 series Gypsy Kids.
The emotional traveller, who cemented his fame in Celebrity Big Brother, is filmed becoming emotional as he looks at his father's coffin and says: "My heart's ripped out of me."
More than a dozen silver Rolls Royces, each bearing the Irish tricolour, lined up outside St Michael's Church in Ashtead, Surrey.
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But the behind the scenes footage in the documentary shows exactly what went into the lavish funeral.
The whole family got involved in helping to give Simon, father of 15, a memorable send-off.
Many of his reported 150 grandchildren and great-grandchildren were given tasks.
His grandson Johnny, 11, told viewers many men were sunglasses at funerals so they can hide their emotions.
And his great-granddaughter Margaret, eight, was tasked with ordering a special floral tribute - after designing it herself.
In footage Paddy can be seen enthusiastically waving on pony and traps flanking the hearse as it drove the coffin around Epsom racecourse. This journey was Simon's last request.
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As Paddy cheers at the roadside he said: "I don’t care who they are or what they are, no one could have stopped that. The police couldn’t have stopped that, that’s our custom.
"We have to carry out our father’s wishes."
Mr Doherty's coffin was emblazoned with the colours of the Irish flag and the message: "Simon Doherty - blacksmith, King of all Doherty's".
Paddy said of the funeral in April: "He was like Mafia in his own way, not in a bad way - any trouble they would go to him.
"He was like the godfather - what he said was law.
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"He said I want no one crying at my funeral, I want them happy, singing and get them drunk."
The 58-year-old former bare knuckle fighter sat with his hand resting on his father's coffin throughout the service.
Mr Doherty's coffin was emblazoned with the colours of the Irish flag and the message: "Simon Doherty - blacksmith, King of all Doherty's".
Floral tributes were laid on the altar in the shape of an Irish shamrock, bottles of whisky, pint of Guinness and a Rolls Royce.
Irish dancers performed and a video footage of Mr Doherty senior in a horse race was played at the service.
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