Bilston pays tribute to town's 'greatest showman'
Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to a much-loved former pub landlord.
Michael Fullwood, who died in November aged 40, was well known in Bilston for being the landlord of the Horse and Jockey pub and was described by his brother as the town’s ‘greatest showman’.
People lined the streets as his family and friends walked more than 500 yards along High Street with his coffin from Ellsmore and Family funeral directors to his former pub.
The coffin was adorned with a gay pride flag and was covered in Mr Fullwood’s favourite Marvel superheroes, as well as carrying his old silver stiletto shoes.
Following the procession, hundreds of close family and friends packed into coaches to head to Sandwell Crematorium for the funeral service.
'An outstanding person'
His sister, Sarah Harrison, said: “He was very loved, you can see by the turnout here. A hell of a lot of people knew him, the character he was, he was an outstanding person, he would do anything for everybody.
"He was a fundraiser too, you couldn't take it from him, he loved to fundraise for all sorts, including Cancer Research, which was his main one, as we lost our mum to cancer.
"His coffin says a lot about him, he loved his Marvel characters.
"I can't explain him, he's the best brother anybody could have wished for. He was just so caring.
"He has loads of friends, we have coaches full of them, it says a lot about the community to have so many people coming out for him."
'Bilston's greatest showman'
Brother, John Colbourn, added: "He was fun, loving and outgoing, he respected everybody but most people didn't respect him because of the way he was, but he didn't care, he loved the way life was.
"It doesn't half say a lot about him with the amount of people here today, it shows how many people loved him, but he never knew how much people loved and cared for him.
"He was Bilston's greatest showman, that's a guarantee, he used to wear flashing high heels and these will be on his coffin, so I hope we do him proud.
"Everybody got to know him through the pub trade, he's been in the trade since he was 16, he left school and starting waiting tables, collecting glasses and then started in the cellar and that was it, he took after my mum.
"We lost her when we were young and he never got over that, it's the way life goes, it's hard but we'll stick together and get through it and keep his name going - we'll definitely keep his legacy going."
