Frank Thompson's Gold Coffin Funeral

Frank Thompson, a 69-year-old patriarch of a traveller family, died from a chest infection. His family arranged an extravagant funeral, including a 'six-figure solid gold' coffin and a week-long farewell tour in a Rolls Royce through Manchester and Nottingham. They have also commissioned a large marble tomb to be built around his coffin in a South London cemetery, which is expected to take a year to complete. The family stated that 'money is no object' for the send-off, aiming to show the positive aspects of the gypsy traveller community. Frank Thompson was described as a businessman who expanded his father's tarmacking company and was known for his wisdom and charitable donations.