THE funeral took place on Monday of flamboyant Leigh businessmen, Jimmy Wilcock, aged 57.

Always smartly dressed, Jimmy was a real man-about-town involved in the world of clubs and pubs.

His funeral was attended by many and one of the mourners, former police chief Trevor Barton, paid tribute to the "Silver Fox" as he was affectionately known.

He told the Journal: "I was with Jimmy at Leigh Miners just a few weeks ago. He was surrounded by his adoring family.

"He was recovering from a major cancer operation some time before that. Of course he was laughing. He was telling everybody that he had pressed the surgeon about his prognosis.

"The surgeon told him it was 50-50. Jimmy replied, 'that's not very good odds'.

"The surgeon retorted: 'Well its better than 70 - 30.'

"Jimmy thought that was really funny. Things didn't improve and only three weeks ago, he met some of his friends for a farewell drink. No self pity, no regrets, just staring the enemy in the face and looking after his friends and family.

"What a great character, what a good businessman, what a good friend.

"Tony Cottrell's eulogy was superb. Like many others, I was all right until the final sentence.

"Silver Fox - the song is over but the melody lingers on."

Mr Wilcock, who died on October 18, leaves a wife, Patsy, a son, two daughters and a step-daughter. Daughter Julie runs the Leigh Arms in Leigh town centre.