‘TRAVELLER’ King Willy Collin’s heartbroken widow has vowed to launch a “war” on a council if they attempt to demolish his huge gravestone.
Kathleen Collins has branded Sheffield Council as “racist” after they claimed the family of the knuckle boxer erected the 37-ton memorial without permission.
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Willy, who was known as the “King of Sheffield”, died in July 2020 after collapsing aged 49 while on holiday with his family.
His devastated loved ones created a colossal shrine to the dad-of-nine, crafted from solid Carrara marble imported from Italy.
But an extraordinary row has now erupted after the council said the extravagant headstone does not conform with their regulations and permission was never granted for its erection.
Kathleen and the family claim that they have now been inundated with vile messages on social media after the row erupted.
Speaking to MailOnline she said: “The council have raised concerns because members of the public have been hounding them to complain about it.
“There’s a lot of racism and jealousy involved because Willy was a famous traveller who was known all over Sheffield.
“There have been vicious comments on social media from those who hate the traveller community and they have left the whole family feeling very hurt and angry.
“People are threatening to pull the monument down or damage it while the Council is saying we may have to change it, it but if that happens, there’s going to be war.
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“It’s going to cause very, very bad riots if they take my husband’s headstone down.
“I am warning the public and the Council, don’t touch the beautiful monument we have put up to remember my darling Willy.”
The 37-ton monument features two life sized statues of the prominent traveller and is adorned by four Irish tri-colours.
Other original embellishments include four flagpoles, depictions of Jesus Christ and biblical scenes, and a solar-powered jukebox playing his favourite tracks.
Willy’s distraught daughter has also declared her family would protect their tribute at all costs.
She claimed the Sheffield City Council were well aware of their grand plans and had “signed it off”.
The brood have now roped in a security firm to guard the bare-knuckle fighter’s grave, as well as putting up CCTV cameras.
Furious Mary told the Sun: “I do not understand why they would take against this tribute to my father.
“Any attempt to have us take this down would be fought legally as it would be a blatant matter of racism.
I do not understand why they would take against this tribute to my father.
Mary Collins
“The Council knew what we were doing. They signed it off. The footings were down for months and it took the builders two weeks to construct the headstone so they had plenty of chances to raise objections.
“I have read peoples’ comments about it and many of them are vile and racist and are just using this as an excuse to have a go at our community.
“It’s not even the tallest monument in the cemetery. There is one to the first Bishop of Sheffield that is taller than this.”
Kathleen added: “Everybody knew and loved Willy but like any couple, we had our issues over the years. Even though we were together, most of them years we were separated, but we always remained good friends.
“We kept things private because we come from the travelling community. When weddings and funerals came along, we’d always go as husband and wife.
“We went to Spain to try and revive our relationship and he even proposed to me again.
“But sadly, he suddenly died, and I found him collapsed in the shower. We never got chance to reconcile our marriage because we had a lot of problems through the years, but we were always close.
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“I always loved him I could never fault him he was a very good husband and father to my children. He was always there when you needed him.
“I’ve never fully recovered since then and it breaks my heart to know that we never got a chance to live our new life together.”
One of 16 children, Willy was the patriarch of the Collins family and had around 400 nieces and nephews.
The controversial monument sits in the Roman Catholic section of Sheffield’s Shiregreen cemetery, close to where the family live behind a huge iron gate with ‘WC’ emblazoned on it.
Several other plots are taken up by the Collins family and there is even a paper globe at the entrance with the words, “Collins Way”.
COUNCIL SPAT
In a new statement Sheffield City Council said: “Sheffield City Council approved plans for a memorial; however, the plans which were submitted and approved differ from the memorial now in place.
“This was not fully appreciated until after the structure was fully unveiled.
“We have reached out to the family and intend to discuss changes which need to be made in order to satisfy the cemetery rules and take into consideration other cemetery users.
“It would not be appropriate to discuss the details further as this is a sensitive matter and we wish to speak with the family fully in the coming days.
Willy moved to Sheffield from Ireland as a child in 1980 and brought up his own family in the city.
Hundreds of mourners lined the streets last August for Big Willy’s funeral as his gold-plated coffin was carried on a horse-drawn carriage.
Pictures of the incredible funeral cortege showed 30 Rolls Royces lined up on Pitsmoor Road along with a convoy of quad bikes and mopeds.
Horses trotted behind Willy’s casket, which was carried to the cemetery in a horse drawn carriage.
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