30/04/2026
Alongside Shirland Miners Welfare, we will be also be livestreaming Gary's Funeral Service on the big screen in the Clubhouse for those who wish to watch the service, which will commence on Friday at 11am.
Those Members intending on attending the service at Swanwick Crematorium in person, please be aware that only the first 200 mourners, including family will be able to enter the building.
Anyone unable to enter will be ushered to the Flower Garden by the Crematorium's Steward. We, as Gary's Club have offered to assist with crowd control and a couple of our ex-Captains in their Blazers have kindly offered to help the Crem's Steward. If you miss entry to the service, please be patient and assist where you can - Andrea, Gary's wife would appreciate the Club's Members help with crowd control at the Crem, where we can.
A reminder that the Welfare will have an additional 'pop up' garden bar to pour draught pints and will only take cash - please bring cash with you to relieve the main bar and for you to be served drinks more timely.
In the words of Gary, "We'll just have one more.."
Let's celebrate Gary's life on Friday, as he would've wished.
Best wishes,
Honor
Hi Everyone,
We just wanted to send a message out ahead of Friday to help make sure the day runs as smoothly as possible (Or as un-smoothly which Gary would probably find funnier)
❌ PLEASE READ ❌
🚌 Coach
A coach has been organised to pick people up from the Welfare, take them up to Swanick, and then bring them back here for the wake. We still have plenty of seats left on the coach, so please get in touch asap if you would like to get on. There’s no cost involved, we are just aware that parking is extremely limited at the crem so if we can get as many on this coach as possible then that will help with parking massively.
🕟THE COACH IS LEAVING THE WELFARE AT 10am 🕙
⭐️ We will be open from 9am ⭐️
📺 We have been given a link which means we can live stream the service in the welfare from 11am. Seating will be limited up at Swanick, with the understanding that people will have to potentially stand at the back or outside. If you think this will be a problem then you are welcome to join us at the welfare to watch instead, alongside our staff and a number of others. We will not be serving at the bar during the service to allow the staff to watch.
🍻 We will have a temporary bar set up outside in the beer garden, which will be serving some of our core draughts. To help take pressure off the main bar we will be serving out of plastic pint pots from the outside bar which will also be cash only. THE MAIN BAR WILL BE USUAL GLASSES & CASH or CARD
💰 There will be a donations box & memory book set up in the function room. In the entrance foyer we will have a table of John Smith shots set up for you all to have a drink with Gary. Please help yourself as you walk in.
🅿️ We will have wardens in our carpark to ensure we can get as many cars in as possible, aside from that parking will be in the surrounding streets. Please be mindful of neighbours when parking. PARKING IS EXTREMELY LIMITED - please use taxis/ubers/car shares/coach where possible.
📢 We want to pre-thank our staff ahead of the day, and additional people who are coming in to help us. Please be patient with them ahead of what is going to be an incredibly busy day. If you can bring your glass back to the bar, even that would be a huge help. All of the staff working knew and loved Gary immensely, and I’m so proud of each of them who have volunteered to work that day.
Lets give Gary a proper legends send off - and have a bath in it 🍻