Outrage over a 37 ton marble gravestone dedicated to the ‘King of Sheffield’ continues – almost two years after it was unveiled.
The grave marks the resting place of traveller Willy Collins and the spat between his family and Sheffield City Council began in 2022 when the grave was erected in Shiregreen Cemetery without planning permission.
The monument is said to be made of 37 tons of solid Carrara marble and features a solar-powered jukebox which plays his favourite tunes, as well as flashing LED lights and a lifesize 6ft 2in statue of Willy himself.
Believed to have cost around £200,000, the tribute ‘fit for a king’ also features four flagpoles and a marble bench, as well as depictions of Jesus Christ and biblical scenes.
The private plot, which is thought to be one of the largest graves in the UK, was unveiled in March 2022 after the 49-year-old died when he collapsed on holiday in Majorca in July 2020.
A month after his death, hundreds of people came out to attend the funeral of the bare knuckle boxer, who was very well known in the Darnall area of Sheffield.
The imposing marble structure was branded an “eyesore” when it was unveiled, with some left questioning how the “monstrosity” was ever allowed to be built, while other mourners expressed their frustration after they were told they weren’t allowed to put up small picket fences around graves for their loved ones.
The council currently has “no further updates” on the removal of the grave, despite saying in March 2022 that they were “considering” their “next steps” – which prompted Willy’s family to warn that there “would be war” if the memorial was touched.
This saw the family hire a security guard to monitor the shrine, with Willy’s widow threatening “very bad riots” if the council touched it.
But during Yorkshire Live’s visit to Shiregreen in Cemetery in February 2024, the grave remains in its full form and could be spotted from far away, standing significantly taller than all of the graves.
A spokesperson for Sheffield City Council said: “We are currently trying to address this situation and there are no other updates to report at the moment.”
Councillor Alison Teal, executive member for sustainable neighbourhoods, wellbeing, parks and leisure, said: “We are aware of a large memorial which has been erected in Shiregreen Cemetery. This memorial was built without permission and we are currently considering our next steps.”
“Cemeteries are a place where people can come, pay their respects and visit loved ones who are no longer with us. We understand memorials are deeply personal, however we must have rules in place to ensure fairness.”
