The comic who created Frank Sidebottom is facing a pauper's funeral after dying virtually penniless.
Chris Sievey, whose alter-ego Frank's over-sized papier-mached head became a comedy icon, had no assets and little money in the bank, his family have revealed.
There are now calls to give the comic a dignified send-off. As we reported, Chris, 54, died after a battle with cancer. He was found collapsed at his home in Hawthorn Road, Hale, early on Monday and died later in Wythenshawe Hospital.
Chris leaves sons Stirling, 31, and Harry, 18, and daughter Asher, 30. Stirling said the family have been in discussion with hospital bereavement officers and a funeral director.
He said: “My father has not left any money behind and we are struggling to try and sort his funeral out. He spent money as it came in and was always a man for the moment. He never planned ahead. We have spoken to a funeral director and the sort of figures that they are talking about are too high.
“We would not know how to go about getting that sort of money at the moment. They said that applying for a pauper's funeral would be an option.
“He would not want us worrying about trying to sort it all out. We would not want our dad to have a pauper's funeral but we would not want something over the top for him too. Just something simple and dignified.”
Radio 2 DJ Mark Radcliffe, who played alongside Chris in the Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band in the 1980s, said a pauper's funeral would be a tragedy. He said: “Something needs to be organised to give Chris the send-off that he deserves. It would be tragic for a man who brought so much enjoyment and laughter to the region to have a pauper's funeral.”
Chris was diagnosed with cancer last month and had operations to remove a tumour in his chest. He was due to start a course of chemotherapy today.
Stirling said his father remained determined to beat the illness. The results of a post mortem examination are due tomorrow. Stirling said: “We did not think he was that ill. Every time he spoke to one of us he said that it was nothing to worry about. ”
12pm update: The MEN has been contacted by several people who are hoping to help Chris's family raise money to cover his funeral. We hope to have more information shortly.
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So why doesn't the MEN contribute something then? A simple funeral and a gravestone can't be more than a few grand.
This just makes his passing even sadder. As Sarcastion Nastyface has said, how about the MEN coughing up, you make £££'s from advertising space. Or if you're too tight to do that, how about setting up a secure site for us to make donations to. You have the readership to easily attract enough donations.
scallies and scumbags get handouts left right and centre, this guy brought a smile to peoples lives, give the family money to give him the send off he desreves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure a good few people would stick their hands in their pockets if given a pointer MEN.
Surely his children can afford a basic send off around £800 thats less than £300 each.
i don't want to sound intrusive but will anyone be welcome or just family/friends?
set up a paypal donation account? Even if people give £1 each..surely it will build up....
Sell his home, or get his relatives to cough up
And why don't the "Stars" who lead tributes help contribute?!
Someone set up a paypal account as this legend deserves a better send off.
Tony Wilson has been dead for years and his plot looks like a paupers grave, he hasnt even got a headstone just a marker stone.
Come on MEN sort something out, something good has to come out of all this..
set up a fund or something, I will donate and im sure lots of others will too. There's already a Facebook group calling for a Frankl Sidebottom (& little Frank) statue in Timperley!!
[quote name=Jay The Manc, London Village]set up a fund or something, I will donate and im sure lots of others will too. There's already a Facebook group calling for a Frankl Sidebottom (& little Frank) statue in Timperley!![/quote]
A few web campaigns to get Frank to No. 1 too www.webuser.co.uk/news/top-stories/474062/web-campaign-to-get-frank-sidebottom-to-no-1
I think we should all contribute, for all the laugher he brought us - its not any more than two grand for a funeral then we can think about the headstone later after everyone gets together to do a charity gig to raise the money - Manchester Against Cancer - Clint - you can do this. REELmcr are up for helping in anyway - we've got Frank's last film appearance up on http://www.youtube.com/reelmcr . We can't let this happen to this great person it sad enough he's gone - we need to send him off proper.
'Some people make money, some people make history....'
I set up the first Facebook tribute page the day after his illness (which hit over 3000 members within 2 weeks) and is the larged Frank Sidebottom group on there.The reason for it?Well the guy was a great entertainer,nothing more.I did not know him personally but i was gutted when i heard of his passing.Super heroes just don't die...its unheard of.
This report of a pauper's funeral knocks me SICK! and the so called celebrity friends who knew him should be dusgusted with themselves that this article even hit the news stands.
Everyone who works on radio or tv is not short of cash, is you "so called good friend" not worth it? if not..... shut your egotistical mouths.
I myself never even knew the guy,if i was not bankrupt and still had all my credit cards id of gladly paid for a funeral..if only to show my contempt for such celebrity "hard working charity contributors" who are writing about him now (you know who you are) yet when it comes to giving the guy a good send off your phones suddenly are running low on credit and battery power..
Chris Sievy should be buried AS Frank and together with liittle Frank.He was a total one -off.A great entertainer.
As for all the trash celebrities who are sat down in their nice houses reading the news of his death suddenly cant find their wallets... just leave your worthless tributes out of your poxy twitter pages.
R.I.P Frank. ...
Warren. S
He must have had a bloody good time with what money he earned then! Well played Chris, Frank whoever you were!
Boxbag, Middleton
I'd be happy to donate something. He made me laugh so many times, and it'd be an honour to contribute to such a worthy cause.
Great idea Jacqui
I'm sure my family won't like this but at least they wont have to spend anything on me knowing i couldn't care less for a great funeral.I won't be saving to plan my funeral either, I couldn't care less if i'm left to rot in the streets.... I'M DEAD!?
Someone should give Chris Evans a nudge, he was Sievey's roady back in the good old days and has always remained his friend. This is one old friend that really does deserve a fitting send off. I would also like to know if the public are allowed to know the time and venue of the funeral. It would be nice to be able to cheer him as he arrives for his last gig!
Hang on a minute Warren, how were his friends to know that he was going to die without a plan to save for his funeral?I'm sure they will contribute now they know this?! Jeeez catch your breath Pal!
Listening to all the platitudes that have been made over the last few days and weeks I thought I must have been the only person who didn’t like this guys humour.
But if he is as penniless as his family say and not even they are prepared to put their hands in their pockets to give him a decent send off then obviously I wasn’t alone in my views.
What to do with all the other poor people who will get a paupers funeral?
Chris Evans part with money, ha ha tell that to his ex! Anyhow the MeN are using his good name to sell papers so Trinity Mirror Plc can cough up some cash.
Frank lived life to the full, the man was a genius, obviously lived life to the full and it was right up to the end,
Let's not question the financial position of family members, it must be difficult enough loosing him, let alone not having the money to send him off in the right manner.
Franks last film appearance was in a recent REELmcr community film production, and I think that I can say on behalf of REELmcr, that we will do anything that we can to help. Perhaps a gig needs to be arranged?
All those that agree please state that you would support such a do.
Let's get something going, he provided too many laughs for many, many years to not be sent off properly.
A simple funeral will cost less then 3k. Some of Franks showbiz pals could pay that easily (privately) without resorting to embarrassing the family with 'fund-raising'!