Lofty - RIP

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Must say I quite like this one, which I found for his FourFourTwo online obituary. (A fuller piece for the magazine is being written this weekend, should be out in a month.)



Were Lofty forced to choose, I'd guess he's choose the one of him on his team-mates' shoulders after the 58 Cup Final, but it's probably too intricate for a statue.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

It would be a great statue with just the two players holding him up.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Obituary in the New York Times. I can hear Lofty's embarrassed surprise from down here.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

Funeral currently live on Sky Sports News. OC and SKD carrying the coffin with Syd Farrimond and members of Nat's family. Haven't seen what was outside the chruch, but I assume the streets have got more than it's fair share of well wishers.

[Lofthouse Lower]

http://media.theboltonnews.co.uk/bolton/natlofthouse/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They'll stream owt these days

[keveh]

Gutted that I couldn't go and gutted at how terrible that stream is

http://media.theboltonnews.co.uk/bolton/natlofthouse/

They'll stream owt these days

[Worthy4England]

Gutted that I couldn't go and gutted at how terrible that stream is

http://media.theboltonnews.co.uk/bolton/natlofthouse/

They'll stream owt these days

Me too. Also not very good when I click on the link, that the title bar shows something about the EDL...

[keveh]

Me too. Also not very good when I click on the link, that the title bar shows something about the EDL...

I was literally about to post that as well!

[TANGODANCER]

I was one of the lucky ones. Being retired when most folk were at work (most folk did I say?, you wouldn't have thought so) I made the trip for a last farewell to a lifetime football hero. I've never before called a funeral a fantastic occasion; this one undoubtedly was. I watched the piper lead the march of dignitaries, representatives and fans of football as they left the front of the town hall and then followed with the crowds through Deansgate and down to Churchgate and the Parish Church. I can't begin to estimate the numbers there, but the whole place was covered in flags, tribute, banners and pictures including a massive banner hung outside an office opposite the church: "R.I.P, THE LION OF VIENNA". I walked back and stood opposite Prestons on Bank Street and had a roadside view of the cortege passing to great applause from all those lining the route.

The church bells tolled continuously mixing with the constant applause, and once the hearse and family cars had passed I was able to get into the church grounds and hear the full service, the emotional Wembley football hymn of Lofty's era: "Abide With Me" and then the lively "Lion of Vienna" broadcast with amazing clarity over the public address system. Great tributes from footballers who had known and even played with the great man (although I confess I didn't know who was speaking) and applause, applause and more applause as each one finished. Sound clips of his career taken from Pathe News etc, and the atmosphere was almost like being at the games.

The service was long, the weather bitterly cold, but I could willingly spare a couple of hours for a man who gave me so many hours of pleasure in return. The coffin was carried out with OC prominent amongst the bearers, Bolton flags adorned the hearse and more applause filled the air and continued as the procession wound its way to the corner of Bridge Street and onwards to Nat's final resting place. The applause just didn't stop as the folk of Bolton, the town Nat Lofhouse loved, paid their final tributes to a true legend of our town. Tribute sheets from the club were being passed around and I managed to scribble a few words although a bit misty-eyed doing it. As I walked along Deansgate with an oldish guy in a Bolton scarf, he turned to me and said "Who needs to be a city with a fxxxxxx town like this?" Have to say, right then I couldn't have agreed more. Bolton did Nat as proud today as he did them all his life.

I'll post some pics later when I thaw out a bit.

[Wandering Willy]

Sounds like a very moving occasion. I regret not being able to go.

Looking forward to the pics TD.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

I wish I could have been there today. I nipped into the Parish Church near my office in Market Harborough and had five minutes.

It sounds like the people of Bolton (and the football world in general) gave him the send off he deserved.

RIP Nat Lofthouse OBE - the Lion of Vienna

[ratbert]

I'd have loved to have been there (was at the Ricoh in Coventry!) and it sounds like the big man was more than handsomely repaid by the town he spoke so well for.

[Wardrobe]

I caught Gordon Taylors eulogy live on Sky Sports News.Very moving

[seanworth]

Cheers for that account Tango.

[boltonboris]

I wasn't sure I wanted to go at first, then I wanted to, but had to workso I didn't.. I'll probably regret it for the rest of my life.. Could have been (rather perversely) one of those great 'I was there' moments, that are so rare in life.

[adamworthy2002]

I went today, it was really moving.

There's a video of the full service on the granada reports website if anyone wants to watch it.

http://www.itv.com/granada/bolton-honou ... ouse13382/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[officer_dibble]

Good accounts, and yeah it sounds very moving. Well done Bolton.

[William the White]

I went today, it was really moving.

There's a video of the full service on the granada reports website if anyone wants to watch it.

http://www.itv.com/granada/bolton-honou ... ouse13382/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you for posting that link. Very moving. I've been sniffling my way through it. Apart from the religious bits, obviously... Though I was grateful for the relief they supplied...

[Hoboh]

You must have passed right by me and Mrs h Tango, we were to the left on the steps by the church gate. Not at all a sad funural more a celeabration for the man, a fitting tribute, was pleased at the football turnout for him must cofess to going a bit weak at the knees when Frank the Fonz turned up couldn't resist getting his autograph and having a few words after the funeral.

The folk of Bolton did us all proud

[TANGODANCER]

You must have passed right by me and Mrs h Tango, we were to the left on the steps by the church gate. Not at all a sad funural more a celeabration for the man, a fitting tribute, was pleased at the football turnout for him must cofess to going a bit weak at the knees when Frank the Fonz turned up couldn't resist getting his autograph and having a few words after the funeral. The folk of Bolton did us all proud

Aye, I probably did Hoboh. I was wearing a red anorak, Bolton scarf and my trademark Victor Meldrew cap. It was an autograph hunters dream there today. I heard the service on the big speakers at the rear of the church and was stood at the back of the hearse when the coffin came out. Coppers had to keep moving everybody back and then sombody's head jumped in front every time you tried to take a photo. Got a few decent pics but I'm having trouble posting them. Keveh's trying to sort the problem out. Granada did a great job filming the service and the hour-long programme was a real tribute to Nat's popularity.