FAMILY: IT WOULD MEAN A GREAT DEAL TO US FOR PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS ON THE FUNERAL ROUTE

AN ATHERSTONE 'legend' taken by Covid-19 will stop off at two of his favourite haunts on his final journey round town this morning.

The cortege carrying horse racing fan Brian 'Cunner' Cadman will pause at the Connie Club on the corner of Woolpack Way and Long Street and then further up the road at William Hill bookmakers.

Mr Cadman, who died in George Eliot Hospital last month after succumbing to coronavirus, is being taken on one last trip through the town centre on the way to his funeral.

The hearse will pause outside his home in Princess Road before heading to Nuneaton Crematorium where, because of coronavirus lockdown restrictions only 10 people are allowed to attend the actual service.

His family has said it would "mean a great deal to them" if townsfolk want to pay their respects – as they did for 76-year-old Jean Fulleylove's farewell last Thursday.

Co-op staff member Lorna Stout has said she intends to observe the passing of the cortege, adding: "I don't want to miss him going by our shop."

For those wanting to pay their respects, the cars are expected to funeral directors M G Evans & Sons about 10.20am travelling via Station Street, Woolpack Way and pausing outside Atherstone Conservative Club, then into Long St and pausing outside his "second favourite place William Hill bookmakers, through the Market Square, onto Ratcliffe Road and then into Princess Road, pausing outside his home. The service is at 11am, but restricted to 10 people.

Nub News revealed last month that relatives, unable to be at the bedside of Mr Cadman through Government restrictions, praised the staff of the George Eliot hospital for their "care and love" as they sang him on his journey into the next life.

The nurses lifted their voices while he passed away.

Tributes poured in across social media for Mr Cadman as "lovely, cheerful and ever-smiling" with Carolyn Randle adding: "So sad, another Atherstone legend" gone.

Mr Cadman is one of eight people in Atherstone and Mancetter to have lost their lives to the coronavirus with six more in the villages of Baddesley, Baxterley, Bentley and Grendon, according to newly-released figures from the Office of National Statistics.

The virus claimed the lives of four people in Coleshill and Water Orton; two in Dordon, Hurley, Picadilly and Wood End; two more in Curdworth and Kingsbury, one person in Austrey, Polesworth and Warton; and another in Fillongley and New Arley.

The ONS stats, applicable between March 1 and April 17, show a borough-wide death toll of 24.

The UK death toll rose by 315 yesterday to 28,446 and is now only fractionally behind Italy's total of 28,884 – currently the worst in Europe. New confirmed cases went up by 4,339 to 186,599.

The Midlands' total cases are 20,632 – Warwickshire making up 1,202 of that figure. Coventry has 674 confirmed cases, while in neighbouring counties to Atherstone – Staffordshire has 1,787 cases and Leicestershire 948.