PEOPLE stopped in the streets to mark the passing of a “patient and kind” young Millom man.


Andrew Bird Hundreds of people crowded into Millom Baptist Church for the funeral of 27-year-old Andrew Bird.

Friends and family queued outside the church to say their final goodbyes to a man who made a huge impact on the town.

Mr Bird, of Holborn Hill in Millom, died on September 24 after apparently sliding down the bank into the River Lazy in Haverigg.

The former Millom School pupil was a well-loved presence in the town and people flocked to the Crown Street church to pay their respects.

Leading the ceremony was Pastor Fred McKeown, who knew Mr Bird well.

He said: “I don’t think there was anyone in Millom who didn’t know Andrew.

“He was one of those people who loved.

“He loved his family; his mum, his dad, his brother and sister.

“He loved his friends and he loved people.”

Mr McKeown spoke of many of Mr Bird’s funny and endearing habits, including his total adoration of trains.

He said: “He loved them – he would travel to Preston and Carlisle and stay up all night long to look at them.”

The minister also spoke of Mr Bird’s commitment to the church where he would often help out with the projector.

A friend and colleague of the church, Jonathan Elvy, gave a moving tribute recalling a number of things that would make him smile about Mr Bird.

He said: “Andrew was patient and kind and he would never get angry at things. He was just happy being Andrew.”

Mr Elvy’s tribute was followed by WH Auden’s famous poem, Funeral Blues , which was read by Mr Bird’s mother, Cheryl.

The ceremony drew to a close with Reach for the Stars by S Club 7, which was Mr Bird’s favourite song, which he would perform on karaoke in many of the town’s pubs.

As the music began, people began to smile as they remembered the young man they knew and loved.

Mr McKeown concluded: “It’s a tragedy for this young man to leave us so young but he is at peace with God. Andrew may not be with us at the moment in his body, but his heart is.

“Everybody here knew Andrew and that memory will help you through.”