Brother of ‘Traveller King’ buried beside Britain’s largest gravestone in platinum coffin
This recent burial occurs a mere two months following the funeral of Michael’s elder brother, Terry, who was interred at the same cemetery in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
The brother of the so-called ‘Traveller King’ was laid to rest in an extravagant send-off, featuring a horse-drawn hearse and flashy Rolls-Royce procession. Michael Collins, aged 51, made his final journey in a platinum coffin before being buried beside his brother Willy’s mammoth 37-tonne £200,000 headstone, which is hewn from solid Carrara marble.
Michael’s heartbroken daughter, Paris, opened up ahead of the funeral saying: “Dad was a loving family man.” She continued, expressing how much her father cherished his family: “He lived and died for his wife and children, and he absolutely doted on his little grandbaby. He thought the world of him.
Speaking on her mother’s grief, Paris added: “My mum is absolutely heartbroken. They’d been together for 27 years and they did everything together.”
She also reflected on the loss within the family, sharing sentiments about her father: “My dad is in heaven now with his brother, Willy, sister-in-law, Josie, and Willy’s oldest daughter, Bonnie.”
This recent burial occurs a mere two months following the funeral of Michael’s elder brother, Terry, who was interred at the same cemetery in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, after passing away at the age of 52.
Michael was part of a sizeable traveller clan. His sibling, Willy Collins, dubbed the King of Sheffield, passed away in 2020 at age 49, suffering a collapse while vacationing in Majorca.
Last year, a monumental 37-tonne piece of craftsmanship was placed over Willy’s resting place—a boxing sculpture flanked by Irish flags—to honour the bare-knuckle champion, all despite Sheffield City Council’s claims that it was constructed sans official go-ahead. Two years later, the structure still proudly stands.
The gravestone features a solar-powered jukebox that mourners can connect to via Bluetooth to play tunes, and it’s illuminated with colour-changing LED lights. The family can access 24-hour CCTV surveillance on their phones, allowing them to ‘communicate’ with their departed loved ones.
Michael’s funeral was held on Monday, December 16. He leaves behind his wife Girleen, their children Paris, Anthony, Montana, and Martin, and his grandson, Martin Francis.
