THE funeral has taken place of well-known Honley character Willie Parkin.

Former Honley butcher Mr Parkin was 92.

Mr Parkin, of Magdale, died on October 1.

He was born in Netherton in 1912, as one of three children.

He left school at 14 and became an apprentice butcher for the Co-op.

At that time, his family moved to Magdale.

When he was 16, Mr Parkin met his future wife, Irene, at a dance. By 17, he was managing his own butcher's shop in Honley.

When he was 25, he married Irene on Easter Sunday in March, 1937.

Their first child, Anne, was born in 1940, the same year Mr Parkin joined the Army.

While in the Army, he trained as a mechanic and became a specialist in Lister diesel engines.

He left the Army when the Second World War ended and worked briefly at David Brown Gears at Lockwood.

In 1947, Mr Parkin and his wife had their second child, Elizabeth.

Mr Parkin soon rejoined the Co-op as a butcher, then moved to Mitchell's butchers in Honley, where he worked until retirement.

He was known for being good at his trade - and had a legendary sausage recipe.

When he was not working, Mr Parkin liked to be outdoors.

As a young man, he had enjoyed cycling with the Holme Valley Wheelers and riding his Frances Barnet motorbike.

In later years, he became fond of clay pigeon shooting and was still winning prizes when in his 70s.

He also loved fishing at Flamborough, a place he had visited regularly since first going there in 1914.

He also enjoyed gardening.

Mr Parkin was also secretary and treasurer of Honley Royal British Legion for many years.

Jock Cowie, who took over from Mr Parkin as secretary, said: "He was a stalwart, a very valued member. He kept the Legion going at times when it was in danger of folding."

Donations for the Legion were collected at Mr Parkin's funeral at St Mary's Church in Honley on October 8.

The Rev David Barnes conducted the service. He said: "He was a character and described by some as an eccentric. People liked Willie. He was a good worker and to be trusted. He had a great love of his family."

Mr Parkin's wife died five years ago. He leaves his daughters, who both live in Yorkshire, and younger brother Albert.