ONE of Holmfirth’s most colourful characters took centre stage for his “last show” as hundreds attended his funeral at the Picturedrome.

Bernard Carr’s coffin was placed on the stage at the famous cinema owned by his brother, Peter, during an upbeat celebration of his life.

The coffin had earlier been put on a table at his favourite pub, the White Hart, before being carried across Towngate to the Picturedrome.

Pictures of the 53-year-old, who died on February 10, were plastered on the billboard outside usually reserved for movie stars and big name entertainment acts.

Mourners received shots of vodka as they filed into the building, labelled with the phrase: “Get your laughing tackle round this!”

It was standing room only inside, where the stage was decorated with flowers arranged in the design of the badge of his beloved Leeds United and the St George’s Cross.

The order of service said: “You may have been wondering why we have decided to say goodbye this way. But as you all know, he was a performer and would do anything to be centre stage. So here we have his last show.”

Friends and family paid tribute to the father-of-three – son Elliot, 27, and daughters Sophie, 25, and Maisy, 19 – who was a health and safety officer with Joe Cookson builders.

Hazel, his wife of 30 years, described him as a romantic and loving husband and father who had a mischievous side.

She said: “He was at his best when he was being a naughty boy, with his partners in crime who all went along with his ventures.

“Bernard was a bugger, but he wasn’t a bad bugger. He was so kind and would do anything for anyone.”

His brother John recalled the time he single-handedly raised more than £1,000 for a girl who had leukaemia to send her on holiday.

Daughter Sophie said: “My dad was like Peter Pan – forever young and who never grew up.”

Bernard, of Victoria Square, who was born in Leeds, was a keen fisherman and talented gardener, cook, printer and handyman. He had done a number of jobs at the Picturedrome, including painting the ceiling.

He died from a heart attack while watching the Super League game between Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos at the Galpharm Stadium. Hazel expressed her thanks to fellow fans who tried to help him.

His coffin was carried out to the song Dance the Night Away by Mavericks before his cremation.

Donations were taken at the funeral for an allotment at the Tiger Club at Holmfirth Junior, Infant and Nursery School, where Hazel is a teaching assistant.