Huge memorial to Traveller King’s brother with marble Guinness & life-size statues built next to UK’s ‘biggest grave’

A HUGE memorial to Traveller King’s brother with marble Guinness and life-size statues has been built next to the country’s biggest grave. The nine-foot high memorial for Michael Collins sits just meters away from the 37-tonne £200,000 headstone for his brother Willy Collins. Lifesize statues of Michael Collins have been placed on the memorial Credit: SWNS The immense tombstone features a sculpture of a pint of Guinness Credit: SWNS Willy’s grave – dubbed ‘Britain’s biggest – was erected at Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Council chiefs said at the time that the headstone had broken planning rules when it was built two years after the “King of Sheffield” collapsed and died in 2020 aged 49. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The structure sparked a row between the council and his family, including widow Kathleen who previously threatened “war” if it was pulled down Four years on a new 30-tonne black marble headstone has been built just meters away. Depictions of Jesus flank a statue of Michael while a memorial bench has been erected next to the tomb Credit: SWNS The huge gravestone was built before final approval was given by the council Credit: SWNS The new headstone was erected in memory of Willy’s brother Michael who died at the age of 51 in December 2024. The lavish nine-and-a-half-foot-tall memorial includes two white life-size statues of the dad-of-four. What appears to be two large statues of Jesus Christ stand on either side of the grave. A marble pint of Guinness also decorates the lavish tomb alongside a depiction of a bottle of Budweiser. Most read in The Sun On the left side of the memorial another large statue can be seen next to a tribute and an image of the four Collins brothers. The image of the four brothers is captioned “Sheffield Collins Brothers.” At the front of the immense grave sit two bouquets of white roses in front of a marble gate. Two white angel statues are placed on either side. To the right of the memorial is a working Bluetooth marble jukebox bearing the words “Legend Michael Collins” – alongside two Irish flags and a CD in a case, featuring a photograph of Michael at its centre. Next to that is what appears to be a sculpture of a Ford Transit van and a tribute to Michael from his family. All four of the Collins brothers have passed away Credit: SWNS Another large tombstone was built for Michael’s brother Willy Credit: MEN Media Dozens of locals have been left disgruntled after finding out about the monument with one saying it looked like a “haunted crazy golf.” Memorials of such scale require a permit to be built. Sheffield City Council said they were in conversations with the Collins family over the “proposed oversized memorial“, subject to “agreement on the final design and payment of the appropriate fee.” But they added that “the memorial was erected before final approval had been granted”. A spokesperson said: “The memorial is for Michael Collins. “It does not require planning permission, but memorials in Council cemeteries do require a formal application and written approval from Bereavement Services before installation. “In this case, the memorial was erected before final approval had been granted. “The Council had been discussing a proposed oversized memorial with the memorial mason and was prepared to consider one, subject to agreement on the final design and payment of the appropriate fee. “The final design was not submitted, formal approval was not issued and payment was not made before the memorial was installed. “The memorial as erected also includes elements that were not part of the design previously discussed with the Council. “The memorial mason has since contacted the Council and indicated that the family wishes to regularise the situation. “The Council is seeking a retrospective application showing the memorial as installed, together with the necessary structural information. “This will allow the Council to assess whether approval can be granted, whether any changes or conditions are required, and what fees are payable. “No decision has yet been made and retrospective approval is not guaranteed. In relation to Willy’s memorial, the council says it “continues to work through the appropriate processes in relation to the Willy Collins memorial”. They added: “At this stage discussions remain ongoing and it would not be appropriate to comment further.” Paying tribute to Michael, one of his loved ones said: “He was a loving father, uncle, brother husband and son and grandfather. “His brother was Willy Collins and is buried across from him. “He lived in Sheffield throughout most of his life being part of the Sheffield Collins traveller family. “He was known as the true blue of Sheffield and one of a kind.” At the time of his death Michael’s heartbroken daughter, Paris, said: “Dad was a loving family man. “He lived and died for his wife and children, and he absolutely doted on his little grandbaby. He thought the world of him. “My mum is absolutely heartbroken. They’d been together for 27 years and they did everything together. “My dad is in heaven now with his brother, Willy, sister-in-law, Josie, and Willy’s oldest daughter, Bonnie.” Comment now