RIP Bill Olner: Final farewell for one of Atherstone's finest sons will be 'affected by coronavirus restrictions'

NO LARGE NUMBERS ALLOWED AT ACTUAL CEREMONY BUT HOPES THAT HUNDREDS WILL TURN OUT ALONG FUNERAL PROCESSION ROUTE FOR LONG-SERVING MP

[H2]FRIDAY, JUNE 5 IS DAY TO PAY RESPECTS TO COMMUNITY CHAMPION, WISE COUNSEL AND EMBODIMENT OF SPIRIT OF WARWICKSHIRE.[H2]

CORONAVIRUS restrictions will prevent one of Atherstone's most famous sons being afforded the grand ceremonial farewell normally reserved for the "great and the good" on the last journey from his adopted town.

The funeral service for former Nuneaton Labour MP and civic leader Bill Olner – who died from Covid-19 complications earlier this month – will be "invitation-only", attended by a select few and followed by private cremation where only 12 mourners are allowed to pay their respects.

For the serving county councillor who won universal respect as a true champion of the town he moved to as a young man from his prefab home in Priory Walk, Mancetter, it will be a far cry from what he duly deserves.

Tributes have poured in from near and far for a person who was the embodiment of fairmindedness and decency – described by Warwickshire County Council leader Izzi Seccombe as having had a "brilliant career".

Bill Olner was loved as much politically, and for his efforts to create the Mary Ann Evans Hospice, as another adopted Nuneaton son, Larry Grayson, was for his comedic work in theatre and television.

How ironic that 25 years ago Bill Olner, as the town's MP, went to the Generation Game star's funeral service at St Mary's Abbey Church, Nuneaton, attended by Isla St Clair, Coronation Street's Johnny Briggs and Crossroads actress Jane Rossington – with Dora Bryan reading the second lesson. At a later memorial service in Covent Garden, London, showbiz legends Danny La Rue, Rod Hull, The Beverley Sisters, Mollie Sugden, Lionel Blair and Cliff Michelmore were joined by Mr Olner in the congregation.

So next Friday's homage to Councilllor Olner will instead involve a roadside tribute by townsfolk but lack the large numbers that would have attended the actual funeral ceremony – had not coronavirus intervened.

The funeral cortege will leave his home address at 2.50pm and travel for around three miles through Ansley Road, Arbury Road, Croft Road, Queens Road, Roanne Ringway, turn left into Coton Road where it will pause outside Nuneaton Council House – where the flag will be flying at half-mast – before heading off into Vicarage Street, Attleborough Road, Highfield Road and into Attleborough village.

The service itself will be livestreamed via a link on Cllr Olner's tribute page https;//williamolner.muchloved.com before making the short trip to Nuneaton Crematorium.

Funeral director Devall and Son said the family has asked for no flowers by request but donations can be sent to the Mary Ann Evans Hospice.

Cllr Olner passed away on Monday, May 18 at George Eliot Hospital.

He was Nuneaton's member of Parliament for 18 years, from 1992 until 2010 and served on Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council for 21 years – leading the authority from 1982-87 before being elected mayor. On news of his death former Solicitor General Mike O'Brien spoke of his personal "sadness". Mr O'Brien, former Atherstone and North Warwickshire MP who also held ministerial positions in Energy, Pensions and Trade, said the area had lost a "true town champion". Former Atherstone town and county councillor Chris Clark said Cllr Olner "really cared about making life better for people and he made great strides in doing so, in every office he held". He added: "Personally, Bill was a great support to me when I was a newly elected member of Warwickshire County Council." Atherstone Screenkleer Windscreen Repair Services boss Richard Wightman remembered the retired MP from his days at Nuneaton parks department as someone who "always had time for everyone". Born in Atherstone in 1942, Cllr Olner spent the majority of his life – in the next town. Educated at Nuneaton Technical College and trained as an engineer, he became a shop steward at Rolls Royce and later area secretary to Unite trade union forerunner AEEU before politics beckoned. In 1992 he became Nuneaton's MP – a position he held for 18 years and in terms of length of service was only bettered by World War Two member Frank Bowles. After retiring from parliament he enjoyed a renaissance as a Warwickshire county councillor – and was still a committee chairman when he passed away on May 18 at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, and former mayoress, Gill. Funeral service is Friday, June 5.