IT was a send-off to remember.
An estimated 1,000 people packed Huddersfield Crematorium yesterday to say farewell to 46-year-old Ian Michael Burgin.
Mr Burgin, who was known as Jack, died last week in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary after a short illness.
He was one of the town's most colourful sporting characters, well-known on both the football field in his younger days and on the bowling greens around the town.
Mr Burgin, of Dalton, worked at Holset. Many of the mourners at yesterday's moving ceremony were his present and former workmates.
It was standing room only in the crematorium chapel. Mourners also lined up across the car park and on to the grass banks surrounding the building.
They heard many tributes to Mr Burgin, including one from his lifelong friend, Phil Roberts.
Many relived memories of Mr Burgin as a sportsman.
He had played football for Rawthorpe and Berry Brow as centre-half and snooker for Rawthorpe WMC and Lockwood.
In crown green bowling, he played in the Huddersfield League for Rawthorpe, Kirkheaton Cricket and Bowling Club, Lockwood Con and latterly Waterloo, and New Mill in the Dearne and Don League.
