DOZENS of mourners turned out for the funeral of a Pershore character and showed that, although he had no family, he was not short of friends.
About 100 people attended Pershore Abbey yesterday to say goodbye to John Mills, known as Ginger, who was a friend of many of the town's shopkeepers.
Mr Mills' coffin arrived adorned with his woolly hat and flowers shaped as the ace of diamonds.
His friend Alan Hitchman said Mr Mills grew up at Besford Court and Croome Court, before joining the circus in St Albans. He described Mr Mills's love of card games and wildlife and said he had once rescued a baby dolphin in Wales.
The service was led by David Bray, who read out tributes including one from Gerald Cosnett who said Mr Mills had settled back in Pershore 10 years ago. He said: "His life was cut short by Parkinson's disease and he will be missed by us all."
Mr Bray said that Mr Mills had tried to trace his sisters but he never found them.
Mr Mills died, aged 70, on Thursday, February 7.
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