Mourners gathered at Daldowie Crematorium on the outskirts of Glasgow on Monday to say farewell to Paul Ferris, the former Glasgow gangster turned author, who died earlier this month at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) aged 62 following a short illness.
Funeral Service and Attendees
A piper led the cortege as the hearse approached the entrance, with the coffin decorated with floral arrangements spelling out the words “Dad” and “Legend.” Family and friends attended, including Scottish actor Paul Brannigan and former boxing champion Alex Arthur.
Music during the service celebrating Ferris’s life included “Wish You Were Here” and “Coming Back to Life” by Pink Floyd, “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits, “Your Song” by Elton John, and “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Life and Criminal Past
Ferris turned his back on a life of crime after serving time, having worked as an associate of Arthur “The Godfather” Thompson Sr. He was cleared of the 1991 murder of Thompson’s son, Arthur “Fat Boy” Thompson Jr., and in 1998 was convicted of arms trafficking offences following a trial at the Old Bailey in London.
While serving his sentence, Ferris co-authored his debut book, The Ferris Conspiracy, with Reg McKay, published in 2001. The autobiographical book inspired the 2013 gangster film The Wee Man, starring Martin Compston and John Hannah.
After seeing the film, Ferris said: “It was very humbling (to see the film), I thought it was an emotional rollercoaster. The best way was to be up front and honest about it.”
Legacy and Charitable Request
The family of Ferris is inviting mourners to donate to The Invisibles, an independent group helping homeless people in Glasgow, according to the Naked City Facebook page, where photographer Brian Anderson first shared news of Ferris’s death.
A post on the page ahead of the service said: “As family and friends prepare to say their final goodbyes, they are asking those who wish to pay their respects to consider a gesture of kindness that could make a real difference to the lives of others. The family has chosen to encourage donations to The Invisibles, also known as See The Invisibles, an independent group whose volunteers work to support some of Glasgow’s most vulnerable people.”
It added: “By inviting donations in Paul’s memory his family hopes to turn a time of sadness into an opportunity to help others.”
