A fond farewell to popular Bingley man (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Hundreds of mourners expected to join family at well-known businessman’s funeral

8:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Kathie Griffiths, T&A Reporter

Hundreds of mourners are expected at the funeral of a retired Bradford businessman who died as he was about to board a plane home from a visit to Jordan.

The family and friends of 70-year-old “reluctantly retired” curtains salesman Kevin Parratt will be joined by his friends and former colleagues at Nab Wood Crematorium, Shipley, on Friday to say farewell.

Father-of-three, Mr Parratt, of Cottingley, Bingley, had enjoyed the holiday of a lifetime in Jordan with his partner Lynne Goodman when he suffered a heart attack at Amman International Airport.

The couple, who had been in Amman for ten days to see Miss Goodman’s nine-month-old grandson for the first time, had handed in their boarding cards when Mr Parratt took ill and, despite help from other passengers and airport staff, died soon afterwards.

Miss Goodman said they had enjoyed a fabulous holiday, not just seeing her son and his family, who lived there, but also fulfilling a dream of Mr Parratt’s to see the rock city of Petra.

Paying tribute to him, Miss Goodman, 54, said: “Kevin moved in lots of circles. He was a real pub and beer man with a passion for sport, people and life. His age was never mentioned because he didn’t feel it. He was 70 going on 50. He was charismatic and gregarious – millions of people seemed to know him.”

When Mr Parratt, a grandfather of six, retired in 2011 he never gave up completely and still kept on some clients.

He had played football into his 40s, was MC at amateur boxing nights held at the then Norfolk Gardens Hotel in Bradford, was a committee member at West Bradford Golf Club, played snooker with former world champion Steve Davis at Girlington’s Kensington Hall Club, was a commentator on BCB community radio for a time and once shared breakfast with Stevie Wonder by chance at a London hotel – his family still have the signed menu.

One of his sons, Tim Parratt, said: “Dad lived a lot. He could have written a book about everything he did – it was just unbelievable. It was hard when mum died ten years ago from lung cancer, they had been soul-mates but he pulled us all together. We had a brilliant time growing up – and as adults, we were spoiled with love.”

Mr Parratt also leaves sons Andrew and Jamie and sisters Joyce and Gwen.

The family has asked for donations for Macmillan Nurses, who cared for his wife, Catherine.