Hundreds flock to Johhny’s farewell
Hundreds of mourners gathered yesterday in St Helens for the burial of a well-known local Traveller. Travellers from across Britain and Ireland made their way to the borough to pay their last respects to Johnny Doran, who died last week. The 69-year-old’s interment took place on this side of Billinge Hill to allow him to be with his still-born daughter.
Johnny, who was known across the North West, also spent a large amount of time living in St Helens. Survived by his wife of 48 years, Violet Johnny was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stomach cancer at Christmas.
Daughter Bernadette said: “He was a big, big man in so many ways and it was heartbreaking watching all the body come off him as he fell ill.
“But you would never have known because he was very brave right to the end and never complained, even though he was in pain.
“Just days before he died he was still cracking jokes and he had a pint of two of Guinness as he said his goodbyes.
“Dad had his own seat at The Bowling Green pub and they say that they are going to keep it for him.
“There were many many travellers at the funeral but just as many people from round here as well, because he was respected by a lot of people, not just travellers.”
Johnny made a living exporting used lorry engines and transmissions - many to Ireland for use by travellers.
But he was also very well known among the traveller community as a famed grey hound fancier and courser at unofficial meets organised near caravan sites around the country.
He had lived in travelling caravans for most of his younger life but settled in Formby - he pitched up permanently on land he brought - when his children were born so that they could enjoy an education. Fifteen years ago he built his distinctive “cottage” with its horse head statues on the gates a nod to his roots, when their ‘living vans’ would be horse drawn.
Johnny, a gregarious man with a huge family, had prepared for his funeral and ordered that there wouldn’t be any black vehicles on show.