Appeal for people to attend funeral of 'solitary' Sheffield military veteran William, 86

There are fears just a handful of people could attend the funeral of Mr Parkin at City Road Cemetery on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Frecheville branch of the British Legion has also called for military veterans in the city to turn up and give Mr Parkin ‘the send-off he deserves’.

She said: “Mr Parkin, who served National Service in the Royal Navy, passed away suddenly and alone at the end of November at the age of 86 in Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital.

“William was a lovely old gent who lived a solitary and quiet life.

“Sadly due to this we are very aware that at his funeral next Wednesday (December 21) there is only likely to be a handful of people, approximately five, to say farewell to this veteran and thank him for his service, including his niece and his only friend and next door neighbour.

“This is request for veterans to come together to give William a funeral befitting of someone that served his country.”

Mr Parkin lived by himself in the Tinsley area until he was taken into hospital this summer with health problems.

He died on November 28.

The funeral will take place on Wednesday at City Road Crematorium from 1pm.