Britain’s “largest tombstone” erected on the grave of the traveling king

Britain’s ‘biggest tombstone’, weighing 37 tonnes and featuring a solar-powered jukebox, has been erected on the grave of traveling king ‘Big Willy Collins’.

Father-of-nine Willy died aged 49 after collapsing while on holiday with his family in Mallorca in July 2020.

His relatives have now erected what is believed to be Britain’s largest headstone in a Sheffield cemetery.

The huge memorial is made of solid Carrara marble and features two life-size statues of Big Willy’s 6-foot frame.

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The headstone also features depictions of Jesus Christ and biblical scenes, plus a solar-powered jukebox that plays Big Willy’s favorite tunes – mourners can also connect to the speaker via Bluetooth to play their own songs.

The headstone is lit up with color-changing LED lights and is monitored 24 hours a day, which his family can also access from their phones and “talk” to him.

Willy’s eldest daughter Mary Collins, 30, said the headstone was a tribute to “the best dad in the world”.

“It’s a sad day, but it’s also a way to show the world what he meant to us,” Mary said.

“Our dad was a family man and he meant the world to us – he still means the world to us. We gave him everything we had and he deserves it.”

One of 16 children, Willy was the patriarch of the Collins family.

The bare-knuckle boxer loved his children and grandchildren and reportedly had around 400 nieces and nephews.

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Following his death, tributes poured in from across the UK and from his home town, where he was known to many as the ‘King of Sheffield’.

“He loved Sheffield,” added Mary. “He was as much a Sheffield man as he was an Irishman.

“If you met him once for five minutes, you would never forget him.

“Now we have somewhere to meet and talk about him and for others to remember him.

“He was my best friend. Not a day goes by that we don’t all think about him.”

Hundreds of mourners lined the streets of Sheffield last August for Big Willy’s funeral as his body was carried in a gold-plated coffin which was carried in a horse-drawn carriage.