POLICE provided an escort as around100 gypsy mourners said their final farewells in Bury on Wednesday (August 14) to one of the country's oldest true Romanies.

Mrs Agnes Boswell died peacefully on Friday at her caravan in Fernhill. She was 97 and was a respected member of the gypsy community throughout the country.

A mother of nine, grandmother of more than 40 and a great grandmother to countless more, Mrs Boswell lived her whole life in a caravan.

"She was born, lived and died in a caravan," said her son, Lawrence Boswell, who also lives at Fernhill Caravan Park.

"My mother was a wonderful and kind old lady who kept herself to herself. She never got into arguments and was respected by all who knew her.

"She loved her life."

St Joseph's RC Church in Bury was packed with mourners who travelled from all over England to attend the requiem mass and funeral service which was followed by interment at Bury Cemetery.

The Castlecroft car park off Bolton Street, Bury, was closed to the public earlier this week in preparation for the arrival of scores of gypsies attending the funeral.

Council chiefs authorised the temporary installation of water and sewage points close to the site for the visitors' use.

The funeral cortege was given the police escort from Fernhill to the church due to the number of mourners and vehicles used for transport.

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