By Daniel Hickey and Faye Mayern via SWNS
A family granted a great-grandfather’s wish to appear at his own funeral – by bringing a life-sized cut-out along to a celebration of his life.
John Calthorpe died in February aged 97 after catching Covid.
The former police sergeant had always told relatives he wanted to be present when he was laid to rest.
So they decided to make good on his wish – and had a 5ft 10ins plastic cut-out made for a memorial event.
Family and friends gathered in a hotel in Gorleston, Norfolk on June 8 to celebrate John.
His daughter Tricia Miles-Crust, 71, said: “He had always wanted to be at the celebration in person, and the best we could do was a life-size cutout.
“We went with him once on a Warner Holiday and there was a cut-out of the queen as it was the Jubilee.
“We thought it was a nice idea and mentioned it to him at the time. Then when he passed, we got a cut-out made of Dad for the celebration of his life.
“We traveled from Wiltshire to Norfolk with ‘dad’ in the car.”
John died on February 7, 2024, after he fell and broke his arm.
As he needed two hands to move with his walker, he had gone to a rehabilitation centre where he contracted Covid.
The ex-policeman for Great Yarmouth lived a full life – and was part of the team who launched the first-ever Crimestoppers.
The crime detection scheme was set up in June 1983 by Det Ch Insp Michael Cole of Norfolk Police and Jim Carter, manager of the town’s Woolworths.
Mr Calthorpe would call local businesses to raise money for the service and also helped to set up the computer system.
Ms Miles-Crust said: “He really enjoyed the job. He was always very proud of Crimestoppers, because it was successful.
“He was also a big musicals lover and he agreed what music he wanted at this celebration of life before he died.
“He and his granddaughters went to see Les Miserables a few years ago and he chose ‘Bring Him Home’ – that was his choice.”
John was also a keen traveler and his last trip was to South Africa when he was in his early 90s.
The celebration saw 45 people including family, friends and some local police officers gather at Maudes Bar in the Pier Hotel. They then scattered his ashes on Gorleston seashore.
His daughter added: “I thought the cut-out was great – it was a fantastic representation of him.
“If he saw it, he would say you knew I wanted to be there and you made sure I was.”
