‘A giant among men’
16:18, 20 Jun 2025Updated 18:32, 20 Jun 2025
Hundreds flocked to St Anthony’s RC Church in Wythenshawe to pay respects to Arthur Donnelly(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Hundreds of mourners headed to Wythenshawe to pay their respects as the funeral of ‘Manchester legend’ Arthur Donnelly was held on Friday (June 20).
Wythenshawe-born Arthur was known for running his huge scrapyard in Ancoats and then Ardwick from the 1970s up to 2017.
He died peacefully at his home in Stockport after a short battle with cancer at the age of 83 on May 23 with his family at his side.
Arthur was dad to Anthony and Chris Donnelly, the brothers behind the GioGoi fashion brand, and to daughter Tracey Donnelly, famed for her work with Factory Records and the Hacienda in Manchester.
Floral tribute to Arthur Donnelly, remembering his famed scrapyard “Ardwick Autos”(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The Mancunian was a well-known figure, having mixed with the great, the good and the notorious of the city’s music, business and cultural scene.
A host of famous faces from the showbiz world were among the hundreds in attendance at St Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church on Dunkery Road in Wythenshawe.
They included New Order legend Peter Hook, Stone Roses star Mani, Hacienda founder Alan Erasmus, TV star Jody Latham and famed Manchester MC Alfonso Buller.
Manchester music stars Mani and Peter Hook were among those paying respects to Arthur Donnelly at his funeral(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Alfonso threw floral petals as Arthur’s coffin arrived, and said ‘all hail the King’ as the funeral procession headed inside the church.
He also handed out polo mints, Arthur’s favourite sweet, to guests in his honour.
Entrance music at the church was Under the Boardwalk by the Drifters, and the exit song was Love of the Common People by Nicky Thomas.
And in the Order of Service, Arthur’s family shared a “parting gift” in his own, inimitable, words.
Hundreds flocked to St Anthony’s in Wythenshawe for the funeral(Image: Manchester Evening News)
They wrote: “When speaking about his impending death, Arthur said the words below. They’re very Arthur, and have helped us get through the past few weeks. We are sharing them with you as Arthur’s parting gift: “It’s all been a load of b******s really, hasn’t it?”
A floral tribute featuring a photo of Arthur also bore the slogan ‘Ardwick Autos’ in tribute to the scrapyard that he famously ran.
Ardwick Autos also featured in music videos for the likes of 808 State, Ian Brown and Chase and Status.
Arthur also starred in a cameo in the cinematic music video to DJ Deadmau5’s and Kaskade’s 2008 dance smash I Remember alongside award-winning actors Stephen Graham and Warren Brown, which was produced by his sons.
Arthur Donnelly (left) pictured with film star Stephen Graham filming in Manchester in 2008(Image: Donnelly Family)
After the church service, the funeral party headed to Southern Cemetery’s Crematorium, where family friend Arran Coghlan made a speech paying tribute to Arthur, hailing him a ‘pint-sized gentleman and yet a giant among men’.
He added: “He loved to make people smile, it was a natural part of his character to be open to helping others.”
A wake for Arthur was held at Freight Island in the city centre on Friday, close to where his famed Ardwick Autos scrapyard used to be.
Alfonso Buller throws petals in honour of Arthur(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Ever since Arthur’s death was announced by family last month, there has been a huge outpouring of grief.
Tributes have hailed Arthur an ‘absolute legend’, ‘one in a billion’, ‘Manchester’s number one legend’ and ‘a lovely man, a true gent and a total character’.
Son Anthony added: “My dad was a good man, he did not judge people, he was always giving.”
Born Arthur Joseph Donnelly on 4 March 1942 in Wythenshawe to parents Ellen and James Donnelly, he grew up in a household with brothers Johnny and Jimmy and their four sisters Louise, Anne, Maria and Claire.
The funeral service was held in Wythenshawe(Image: Manchester Evening News)
He would go on to meet his future wife and lifelong love June at the age of 17 when both were dancing at the Plaza. They married in August 1963 at St Jerome’s Church in Ardwick and were together 63 years before June died in 2022 aged 79.
He was a much-loved dad to Tracey, 61, Anthony 60, Chris, 57; grandad to seven grandchildren Carlie, 37, Daryll, 36, Paris, 34, Milo, 30, Leon, 25, Lola, 21, Dylan, 16 and also great-grandad to seven great-grandchildren.
Arthur first established a scrapyard on Great Ancoats Street in the 1970s, before setting up on Hoyle Street in Ardwick in the 1980s.
Crowds of well-wishers paid their respects at the funeral(Image: Manchester Evening News)
It was one of the last businesses remaining at the site before eventual closure in 2018, with the area now redeveloped into Mayfield Park in the city centre.
Arthur kept a “wall of fame” at the yard with the famous folk he’d met – the likes of Pete Doherty, Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown and Paddy Doherty among them.
Donations from guests at the funeral services were made to the PeaceMeal Manchester charity.