Fleet of Rolls Royces lead funeral procession for Gypsy King ‘Big Daddy’ as mourners in green carry his gold coffin
A FLEET of Rolls Royces led the funeral procession for Gypsy King "Big Daddy" - with mourners in green carrying his gold coffin.
Hundreds of people travelled to Cardiff to remember James Coffey, known to friends and family as Jim or "Big Daddy".
The grandad-of-23 died on March 21 after he was diagnosed with cancer which spread to his brain.
Jim's life was commemorated with tributes including a packet of cigarettes, a pint of John Smith and his lucky lottery numbers.
Another decoration showed Jim in the clouds with his late wife Agnes and their 14-year-old daughter Helen, who died in a 2006 accident.
Mourners dressed in green and white scarves sung traditional Irish songs in front of a screen showing Jim with his family and friends.
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"My Way" played as Jim's coffin was carried out of St Alban in the Moors into one of nine Rolls Royce motors decorated with Irish flags.
Jim's daughter Bridget said: "My father was the sort of man who wouldn't let anything drag him down.
"If he had pain he wouldn't go to the doctor. He would say the best cure is a can of John Smith's or a can of Guinness.
"Every night after work he would sit at his table, smoke his cigarette and drink ten cans of John Smith's.
"At midnight he'd have his dinner that Agnes made him. Then he'd be up bright and early to leave for work at 7am."
James Coffey was born in Birmingham and travelled widely as a child before settling with his family at Leckwith Common in Cardiff.
He travelled until 1998, when he moved into a yard at Wentloog Road in the Welsh capital.
The yard was adorned with statues of lions and was known as "The Chalet".
Jim was still enjoying Guinness, Baileys and card games just two days before his death in March.
Bridget said: "He was like a role model to his family, a legend who built a better life for his children."
Big Daddy's brave health battle
JIM was diagnosed with cancer at Christmas 2022, his family said at the Traveller legend's funeral.
The cancer spread to several parts of Jim's body and doctors said he had at most six months to live.
A medic told him: "We'd advise you not to have chemotherapy, but if you want it, we'll give it to you."
Jim replied: "Let's give it a go."
The Cardiff man "sailed" through treatment, going straight from chemo to shifts as a groundworker.
His daughter Bridget said: "My father carried on his normal working from 7am until 9pm.
"Even in winter he'd be back home at about 8.30pm. He loved to be busy and he had the strongest willpower I've ever known.
"The doctors and nurses were amazed by him. After seven months, the doctor asked him how he was.
"He cracked a joke: 'I've passed my six-month MOT.'"
Jim died on March 21 this year, more than 14 months after his terminal cancer diagnosis.