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Video: Farewell to Segway tycoon Jimi Heselden
They came in their hundreds to pay tribute to a man known as "the hero to heroes".
* CLICK HERE TO READ AND LEAVE YOUR TRIBUTES TO JIMI.
An estimated 1,500 people gathered to pay their last respects to Leeds-born multi-millionaire businessman and philanthropist Jimi Heselden.
Among them were soldiers whose lives he helped save with his most famous invention, the Bastion Concertainer – protective shields used by armed forces across the world.
One US Army sergeant, who credits Mr Heselden with saving his life in Iraq, flew to Leeds from Texas to say a personal thank you to his family.
Also there were representatives of charities to which Mr Heselden had given millions of his self-made fortune, along with scores of family and friends, many of whom had known the entrepreneur since he was a boy growing up on the tough Halton Moor estate.
Other notable guests included former Leeds United hero Dominic Matteo, Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield and Lord Mayor of Leeds, Coun Jim McKenna.
In fact so many people wanted to say a final farewell that the service had to be held at one of Mr Heselden's Hesco Bastion factories in Cross Green, Leeds.
Giant marquees were set up on the site to hold around 1,000 invited guests and hundreds more members of the public who simply turned up to say goodbye.
The site - in the middle of a large industrial estate - fell unusually silent as mourners gathered outside to await the arrival of the funeral cortege.
Employees lined the route and musicians from the Yorkshire Regiment played as two hearses arrived - the first filled with flowers spelling out "granddad" and "dad" and the second carrying Mr Heselden's coffin, adorned with a single red rose.
Five family cars, carrying Mr Heselden's widow Julie, his children, grandchildren and closest family and friends, followed.
Mr Heselden's coffin was carried in to the service to the strains of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack and Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion.
The service was led by the Rev Tony Thompson, from St Paul's Church in Shadwell, who told the assembled mourners: "It is a fitting tribute to him and the sort of person he was that so many people have gathered here today to pay their respects.
"His generosity was phenomenal and I know he has touched the lives of all of you in some way or another."
He said although Mr Heselden had gone on to achieve great things, he never forgot his "East Leeds roots" and he was "so proud of his home city".
Giving the eulogy, his close friend and a manager at Hesco Bastion, Chris Robinson, told of Mr Heselden's humble beginnings as he went from teenage miner to the boss of one of the UK's most successful companies.
But to him, Mr Heselden was simply, "a friend, a hero, a legend."
He also told stories of Mr Heselden's famed generosity: "Once when a shipment was being sent with the Bastions to Iraq, he noticed there was some empty space.
"He went to a local warehouse and bought all their scarves, hats and gloves, chocolate and other small treats. He had it all packed on to the lorries and he told the drivers to give it out to the local children."
Another time, after a meeting in the US, he had given his jacket - with a $100 bill in the pocket - to a homeless person who passed him in the street.
He added: "I believe that God gave him the brain of 10 geniuses, the eyes of 10 eagles, the legs of 10 stallions and the arms of 1,000 men, because he could stretch them as far as he needed to help people."
Mr Heselden's niece Melanie Schofield read some of the many tributes the family has received from across the world, but she finished with a message from his widow Julie.
She said: "The day God took you from me, my whole world fell apart ... the memories of the happy years when we were together, the joy, tears, love and fears will stay with me forever.
"Each time I see your picture, you seem to smile and say 'don't cry, I'm only sleeping, we'll meet again someday'. We had so much more to do together, Jimbo. Wait for me."
As the song My Life Story by Gladys Knight was played, smiling pictures of Mr Heselden throughout his life were beamed to the audience.
After the service, his family proceeded outside where Mr Heselden's grandchildren released 1,000 balloons, in the green and white colours of his beloved Hesco Bastion, and beaing the inscription "a hero to the heroes".
A private burial service followed and a wake for invited guests was held at Leeds United's Elland Road ground, where Mr Heselden had recently become a main sponsor.
Mr Heselden left Osmondthorpe School at 15 and went to work down Temple Newsam and Lofthouse pits.
After he left the mines, he set up his own sand-blasting firm, cleaning churches. His big break came in 1990 when he invented the 'Bastion Concertainer' - a system of wire cage walls which allow yards of protective walling to be put up in minutes, much quicker and easier than using sandbags.
His invention, now used by the military across the world, made him into one of Britain's richest men.
Much of that wealth, though, he shared by donating a fortune to charities.
He gave 23m to set up the Leeds Community Foundation, gave 50,000 a year to Leeds's three hospices and was a keen supporter of forces charities, including Help for Heroes. The foundation has pledged to carry on his good works.
Mr Heselden, 62, died when his Segway personal transporter plunged 40 feet into the River Wharfe near his home in Boston Spa on September 26.
As well as his wife Julie, he leaves four children: Joanne, Jason, Lisa and Jody, a late son, James, and a step-daughter Kirsty.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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