Gambling-mad pensioner has one final bet on horses — at his funeral

A GAMBLING-mad pensioner had one final bet — at his funeral.

Retired foreman Bill Blair, who died of cancer aged 83 last month, loved his daily flutter.

Kennedy Newsand MediaThe funeral director Drew nipped into the bookies to place a £2 bet on a horse on the betting-mad pensioner’s final journey[/caption]

Kennedy NewsRetired foreman Bill Blair, who died of cancer aged 83 last month, loved his daily flutter[/caption]

Kennedy Newsand MediaBill’s betting slip-shaped floral tribute[/caption]

So a funeral director put one on as the procession paused in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Funeral director Drew Lilleker nipped into the bookies to place a £2 bet on a horse and pinned it to Bill’s betting slip-shaped floral tribute as staff silently bowed their heads.

One of Bill’s granddaughters, carer Tyne Hadley, said she and her family wanted his funeral to be a celebration of her grandad.

Tyne, from Whittington, Derbyshire, said: “We wanted to celebrate all the things he loved in life.

“He’s betted all his life. Every day he was there, he and one of his mates used to socialise at the weekend with their pints watching the horse races.”

Tyne said of the horse: “He fell at the first hurdle. He’d have laughed at that.”

Ex-army man Bill was welcomed at Chesterfield Crematorium by flag-bearing pals from the regiment he served in during the 1950s – to represent his pride at serving Queen and country.