A FORMER miner was cremated with a copy of the Chronicle in which he featured but never got to see.

Garry Gillis, 75, of Hartington Drive, Honeywell, was diagnosed with terminal cancer seven weeks ago.

He had asked more than 50 visitors to don a Father Christmas hat with beard and hoped to raise £500 for Macmillan Nurses and Marie Curie.

The area around his bed was trimmed with Christmas decorations and visitors had their photo taken which was then pinned on his wall.

He sadly passed away on December 5.

Originally from East Street, Goldthorpe, Garry worked at Barnburgh Colliery as a surface worker.

He lived most of his life in Somerset, but returned to his sister Jackie Goodall's in Honeywell to be nearer his family.