Fine farewell for horse-lover (From Stroud News and Journal)

Fine farewell for horse-lover

A FITTING end to a remarkable life saw horse lover John Patrick Breen laid to rest in touching fashion.

The Irishman, from Bowl Hill, Rodborough died in January aged 83. Last week his eye-catching funeral cortege travelled through the streets of Dursley led by a horse drawn carriage before reaching its final resting place at St.Dominics Church.

"He had a passion for horses," recalled his son Shaun who organised his dad's final journey on a horse.

"Dad had worked at Pearce Pope auctioneers at Birdlip and used to ride hunters bare-back to take them to be shod. He always wanted to ride again. We own horses and he was always wanting to get back on a horse."

Just the week before his death he was telling me how much he would love to travel by horse again," said Shaun.

On his death the Breen family thought it would be fitting for Mr Breen to be laid to rest by travelling on a horse drawn carriage," said Shaun.

John Breen was born in Ireland but came to England in 1945 where he was stationed at RAF Innsworth. There he met his wife Lillian . Sadly for Mr Breen his wife died 24 years ago.

" Dad was arrested in his 20s when he was caught going across Southern Ireland to try and get into the North," said Shaun.

His Irish roots date back to the 1700s with religion playing a prominent part. "Dad was in fact the oldest living relative of Father John Murphy of Wexford a prominent religious figurehead in Ireland in the 1700's."

The family took John back to Ireland in 1998 for a gathering to celebrate the life of Father John and the 200th anniversary of the 1798 uprising.

Once settled in England Mr Breen worked at Dowty Rotol as a miller before moving to Pearce Pope where his love of horses burned brightly. His career took him on to Siddlington as a farm worker before spells at Listers and Cadbury's at Frampton.

Just months before his death Mr Breen could be spotted having a pint at his favourite local the Clothiers.