The family of a Liverpool born grandad have revealed the heartbreaking story behind a banner tribute that was spotted flying over Merseyside yesterday.
The banner, that was spotted flying over St Helens on Friday, was in tribute to Alan Connolly, 87, who sadly passed from Covid-19 on 18th May.
A grandfather to nine and a great-grandfather to 16, Alan was described by family as an immensely popular family man.
Alan was a former Royal Marine after joining in July 1949 where he served in the 40 and 42 Commando Regiment until 1958. He saw action in Egypt during the Suez Crisis.
After he left the Marines, Alan became a fireman serving for 26 years in Liverpool.
He was admitted to hospital on 13 March following a fall that left him with a fractured neck, and he later suffered a heart attack while in hospital.
He later tested positive for coronavirus but was discharged to a nursing home after he later tested negative.
Sadly, he was later readmitted to hospital with breathing difficulties and passed away surrounded by his children in hospital last month.
Grandaughter Louise Connolly, 33, from Runcorn, said that the the banner was to help give her grandad the send off he deserved despite the coronavirus restrictions which only allowed 10 people to attend his funeral.
The plane took off from Blackpool, circled Alan's house in Runcorn before following the hearse to Walton Lea crematorium.
Louise told the ECHO: "It was my mum, his daughter-in-law, who organised the banner to fly from Blackpool, to circle his house and then to follow the hearse to the crematorium.
"At one point during the flight, the plane had to take a bit of a detour because there were some RAF planes in the sky, which I think he would have liked given that he was ex forces.
"I think that's why so many people spotted it because it went over St Helens."
She described her grandad as a passionate Liverpool fan who loved telling stories to his great-grandchildren.
She added: "Everyone loved him he was passionate about Liverpool Football Club. He would always shout at the TV and talk over the commentators.
"He met my nan when they were kids and they got married in 1954 and spent over 60 years together until she died in 2016.
"We all called him pops and he loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren so much.
"He always had such great stories to tell about what it was like living in Liverpool during the war, where he was bombed out twice, his time in the marines and working as a firefighter."
