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Crowds flocked to the street last month as tributes were paid to a well-loved farmer and renowned character. David Whittle, popularly known to many people as Jed, was laid to rest in Westhoughton earlier in October in a ceremony that saw people flock out into the streets for a unique funeral procession. He had been a well-recognised figure to people about the town for generations, the turnout a testament to how valued a figure he had been in the community.
Mayor of Westhoughton Cllr Neil Maher said: “There were lots of people out and about all along Market Street that and what a unique occasion it was! “The tractors came down and the crowds just filled Market Street. The procession passing through Westhoughton (Image: Public) “Everyone respected Jed as a character and for what he added to the community.” He added: “Everybody has got their own memories of him he’s done so many interesting and entertaining and humorous things over the years that everyone will remember about him.
” Cllr Maher said people all over the town would remember their stories about Mr Whittle and had shown just how valued he had been by the community by the crowds that came to honour him. Mr Whittle featuring in a newspaper article of years gone by (Image: Public) He said those stories would live long in the memories of people all over the town, and that he had many such fond memories of Mr Whittle himself. Having been well known as a farmer, in his later years Mr Whittle also became a familiar site going up and down Leigh Road and Market Street on his scooter.
The sight of Mr Whittle on his tractor was well known to generations of Westhoughton people and so it was only right that his funeral by marked with a tractor following that same familiar route. The procession was held as part of the funeral held last month on October 4. The way through Market Street was brightened with an impressive tractor display carrying Mr Whittle’s coffin through the town to his final resting place.
Several bales of hay were carried on top of the tractor in tribute to Mr Whittle’s lifelong association with farming along with bouquets of flowers and a floral display..
