Tributes have been paid to popular former landlord Keith Farrell, whose funeral procession will stop outside his cherished town centre pub today.

Keith was the licensee of the White Lion on Mill Street, Macclesfield, for almost 25 years.

He died on March 12 after a short illness.

He was 84-year-old.

Keith’s funeral procession has been given permission to travel down the length of Mill Street where it will stop briefly at the White Lion around 3pm before heading to Macclesfield Crematorium.

Paying tribute his son, Keith jnr, said: “Dad truly loved his time at the White Lion. It’s fitting that we took him past the old place one final time.”

Keith was born in 1930 and grew up in St Helens.

He trained as a plumber and later became a taxi driver.

Keith eventually started his own successful taxi firm at the town’s train station.

In 1959 he met his future wife Thelma while delivering flowers to her hairdressing salon from an admirer. Seizing the opportunity Keith asked Thelma out. The couple married in 1961.

In 1972 Keith fancied a change of career and moved Thelma and their three children Keith jnr, Beverley and Glenn to Macclesfield to run the White Lion.

Keith jnr, 52, said: “Dad was very sociable and loved meeting people and chatting. Taxi driver and pub landlord were two perfect jobs for him in that sense.”

Away from the pub and his family, Keith’s passion was his collection of American and classic cars.

He and Thelma toured Europe in his Buics and Cadillacs.

He even roped in the family to drive them to motorshows across the region.

After retiring in 1996 Keith and Thelma spent much of the year at their house in Florida.

But when the first of their six grandchildren arrived the couple moved back to live in Bridge Street, Macclesfield.

Keith suffered a stroke two years ago and fought back to regain his speech and movement. He was even able to drive his beloved cars again.

Earlier this month during surgery for a hernia Keith suffered another stroke but didn’t recover.

Keith jnr said: “While it is a really sad loss to his family and friends, dad had a really good life and enjoyed every minute of it.”

Donation are encouraged to Macclesfield Stroke Association.