THE funeral of a popular man who lost his battle with cancer last month brought the centre of Penistone to a standstill last Friday.
Andrew Battye, 42, died on April 24 after a four-year fight against illness and hundreds gathered in and around St John’s Church for his funeral.
He had raised thousands of pounds for research into cancer and multiple community organisations were represented at the service which, due to a full church, was relayed outside in the Market Square.
Penistone Show Ground was opened to park the many performance cars which had gathered - a nod to Andrew’s passion for motorsport - and the one-way traffic around the square had to be diverted.
Following the funeral, more than £1,200 has been raised for Weston Park in lieu of flowers.
A Just Giving page said: “Battye’s passion for motorsport started at a very young age where he travelled the country following stockcars with his late father, Alec.
“As Battye grew older he turned his hand to mechanics, helping out a number of drivers from oval and circuit racing. In the later years of his life he took a shining to the younger generation through karting.”
Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/andrewbattye to donate.
