Police step in as procession halts A1 traffic as crowds said goodbye to gypsy known as ‘Del Boy’

A funeral for a man referred to as ‘The Del Boy Trotter’ of the Romanies and ‘King of the Road’ was so huge that police stepped in to help with crowds.  

John Taylor, known as a wheeler-dealer among the gypsy community, was at the centre of a grand memorial service that saw hundreds gather in Selby, North Yorkshire, The Sun reported.

When hundreds gathered to say their final goodbyes, traffic from the Great North Road was brought to a standstill for 15 minutes. 

John, who died from a heart attack at 57, was held in a silver coffin and carried in a red van with ‘Number 1’ as the registration plate. 

Family gathered at the Milford Caravan Park in South Milford for John Taylor’s funeral 

Trailing behind the van were seven silver Rolls Royces and nine trucks brimming with flowers and messages, with one reading ‘King of the Road’.

Mourners were also allowed to double park on the hard shoulder of the dual carriageway thanks to a police operation that helped the procession run without complications.

John, who died from a heart attack at 57, was held in a silver coffin and carried in a van with ‘Number 1’ as the registration plate

Traffic on the Great North Road  was brought to a standstill for 15 minutes. Mourners were also allowed to double park on the hard shoulder of the dual carriageway thanks to a police operation

Known among his friends as being like Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses, the Romani was said to have died doing what he did best, having just sold his last caravan.

An associate of John said that he was a ‘man of his word’ who worked hard to support both his family and even strangers in need.

He was also known as Shera Rom in gypsy language, translating to King of the Gypsies.

The associate told The Sun: ‘He just couldn’t help it. He was a “Del Boy” dealer – a “Who Dares Wins” kind of man.

‘When he had a deal, he never backed out whatever the cost – good or bad. His caravan business was his main business, but he never forgot where he came from.’

John was also known as King of the Gypsies among gypsies in the UK and Europe

A family spokesman said that his death had ‘shocked the world of the gypsy community’

Crowds stood outside on Sunday watching the service from giant screens 

Family gathered at the Milford Caravan Park in South Milford for a private service on Saturday.

But gypsies from across the UK and Europe gathered on Sunday for another ceremony, with 600 crowding a marquee.

Further crowds also stood outside watching the service on large screens.

A wedding photo of John and his wife of almost 40 years, Violet, was shown at the service. 

She described him to be ‘the Gamest Gypsy Man to Stand in Two Shoes’.

John’s death on November 26 was said to have ‘broken so many hearts’, including those of his four children. 

A family spokesman said that his death had ‘shocked the world of the gypsy community’.