Digger tribute to much-loved Eddie '˜Knock It Down' Collett

Coun Eddie Collett’s funeral was held at Carleton Crematorium with a private gathering at Blackpool Town Hall following the service.

Coun Collett, 58, was affectionately known as “Knock It Down Collett” during his time at the council, because of his love of regeneration in the town.

So to mark this, he arranged with Blackpool Council leader Simon Blackburn prior to his death last week to have diggers sited outside the town hall in Talbot Square to greet wellwishers.

The Tyldesley ward councillor had been ill for some months and died from cancer in the early hours of Monday.

He leaves wife Heather, son David, daughter Sian and grandson Henry.

And as his family entered the Town Hall, they 
were greeted with a super-sized mock-up Gazette front page.

Coun Blackburn explained: “(Couns) Graham Cain, Gillian Campbell and I visited Eddie in Trinity Hospice and he was keen to talk about his funeral.

“I pointed out to him that The Gazette had run a front page recently with the headline “Send In The Bulldozers”, and he thought it would be 
hilarious to have a bulldozer outside the Town Hall ready to greet everyone after the funeral.

“In the event, we managed two bulldozers!

“Having spoken to Eddie’s son, David – who shares his father’s sense of humour – we were delighted that The Gazette was able to produce the fantastic mock-up of their front page – using a fantastic photo of Eddie, as we will all remember him, with a big smile on his face – which will be an even wider smile now we’ve made his wishes come true with this unique tribute to “Knock It Down Collett”.