Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Dave Burrows
A final farewell for Telford character Don Boycott
Thursday 2nd February 2012, 4:59PM GMT.
Tribute – Much-loved Telford character Don Boycott has died, aged 53
The funeral of much-loved Telford ‘character’ Don Boycott was taking place today.
Mr Boycott, from Ketley Bank, died last week from progressive motor neurone disease. He was 53. Despite being blind from childhood, he would often be seen pulling his home-made trolley and collecting tin cans to raise funds for charity. Don was also a member of Telford and Ironbridge Meccano Society
He would build mechanical models using his sense of touch and his skill for making things.
His brother Reg Boycott today described him as a ‘character’ who loved to socialise and had the saying: “I’ll attend to that!”
“Everybody knew Don. He was a darling,” said Reg, who looked after him at his caravan in Ketley Bank.
“And he remembered people from their voices. You only had to meet him once and he would remember you.”
Don’s local knowledge and eagerness to help often got local builders out of a pickle too. Reg explained how six or seven years ago when new houses were being constructed in Overdale, Don stopped for a chat with puzzled-looking workmen.
“He asked what they were looking for and they told him they were looking for the mains, but it had been paved over and they couldn’t find it,” said Reg.
“Don took them right to the spot. The foreman, who was over the moon, said ‘great, it takes a bloke who is blind to find what we are looking for!’”
Reg added: “Don was well liked. He enjoyed life. He would get up and he was away. He was a complete character.”
Mr Boycott’s funeral was taking place at Telford Crematorium, Red Hill, Telford, at midday today.
Reg said: “He never moaned or complained about anything.
“He was never a problem and he would never ask for anything – you had to ask him if he wanted something.”
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