A traveller ‘King’ has been buried in a ‘six-figure’ solid gold coffin following a week-long farewell tour in a Rolls Royce.
Frank Thompson, who died aged 69 from a chest infection on July 2, was given an extravagant send-off by his devastated family who stopped off at a number of locations across Nottingham and Manchester.
And while his relatives insist that the patriarch was ‘never a flash man’, they have even commissioned a huge marble tomb which will take a year to construct around his coffin at a south London cemetery.
The six-figure coffin, described by an unnamed family friend as ‘stupendous’, was ordered by Mr Thompson’s son from abroad and took weeks to arrive, with Mr Thompson having passed away nearly a month before he was eventually laid to rest.
They added that the lavish burial was designed with the goal of showing the world that ‘there are some really good gypsy travellers’.
While the successful businessman ‘could have anything he wanted’, the family friend continued: ‘He was never a flash man, believe it or not.
‘He’d be proud of what his sons did for him, and held him as, more than anything else.’
The friend close to the family declared that while Mr Thompson’s loved ones had initially planned on simply giving him the ‘best casket’ on offer, the plans had subsequently got ‘bigger and bigger’.
A traveller ‘King’ has been buried in a ‘six-figure’ solid gold coffin (pictured) following a week-long farewell tour in a Rolls Royce
Pictured: Frank Thompson shown on the front of a newspaper at his funeral service. The traveller businessman, who died aged 69 from a chest infection on July 2, was given an extravagant send-off by his devastated family
While Mr Thompson’s relatives insist the patriarch was ‘never a flash man’, they have even commissioned a huge marble tomb which will take a year to construct around his coffin at a south London cemetery
The six-figure coffin, described by an unnamed family friend as ‘stupendous’, was ordered by Mr Thompson’s son from abroad and took weeks to arrive
Pictured: Mr Thompson’s six-figure gold coffin. His heartbroken relatives embarked on the coffin tour on July 23, travelling to numerous locations where Mr Thompson had ran businsesses and tarmac yards, alongside to various cemeteries
They added: ‘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.’
Mr Thompson sadly passed away on July 2, leaving behind his wife and children.
His heartbroken relatives embarked on the coffin tour in the luxury vehicle on July 23, travelling to numerous locations where Mr Thompson had ran businsesses and tarmac yards.
The large traveller family are also said to have visited various cemeteries where Mr Thompson’s friends and family members had been buried.
Described as a ‘businessman through and through’ with great ‘wisdom’, Mr Thompson was eventually laid to rest on July 29.
A friend close to the family declared that while Mr Thompson’s loved ones had initially planned on simply giving him the ‘best casket’ on offer, the plans had subsequently got ‘bigger and bigger’
Described as a ‘businessman through and through’ with great ‘wisdom’, Mr Thompson was eventually laid to rest on July 29
Pictured: Mr Thompson’s grave. His lavish burial was designed with the goal of showing the world that ‘there are some really good gypsy travellers’, a friend close to the family said
The traveller was said to have encouraged many in his community to be both ‘business-minded’ and become known for ‘having a nice life and making a good house for your family’. He was described as a ‘lovely man’ with a ‘heart of gold’
The traveller was said to have encouraged many in his community to be both ‘business-minded’ and become known for ‘having a nice life and making a good house for your family’. Pictured: mourners gather at
A golden plaque placed on Mr Thompson’s tomb described him as ‘a legend’
The traveller was said to have encouraged many in his community to be both ‘business-minded’ and become known for ‘having a nice life and making a good house for your family’.
Describing him as a ‘lovely’ man with a ‘heart of gold’, they added that the traveller patriarch would be remembered as having a ‘heart of gold’ with ‘the best intentions for everyone’.
Prior to his illness, the 69-year-old was said to have had plans to build an orphanage for children abroad and had made donations to ‘lots of children’s charities’.
A successful businessman well known within the local community, Mr Thompson had gone on to expand his father’s tarmacking company to several locations worldwide.
Following his tragic passing, both his son and the friend close to the family have taken over the business, with hopes of keeping the traveller’s legacy alive.
