The life of Colin Slater MBE was remembered at St Mary's Church on High Pavement, Nottingham on Monday (January 31) afternoon during a fitting funeral service for 'Mr Notts County'.
The ceremony was attended by family, close friends, those involved with Notts County Football Club and people and fans who successfully applied.
Among the attendees were current head coach Ian Burchnall, a number of first-team players and former owner Alan Hardy, along with Nottingham Forest Community Trust CEO Graham Moran, and Emmanuel House homelessness charity CEO Denis Tully and many others.
Mr Slater died peacefully on January 10, after his health was said to have deteriorated, with loved ones by his side.
The procession visited Meadow Lane where a number of fans were in attendance to pay tributes and their respects to the well-loved broadcaster, as well as the BBC Studios on London Road, before arriving at St Mary's Church.
The funeral service opened with Mr Slater's coffin being carried into the church, followed by a hymn, before friends and colleagues paid tribute to Mr Slater.
During the service, Arthur Sandford, a friend and colleague from Mr Slater's time at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "He was the most remarkable man."
Mr Slater had worked as head of public relations.
"Many will remember him from his broadcasting, and he had the most fantastic memory, which was helped by his attention to detail and preparation," said Mr Sandford.
"Nottingham was the first venue for the World Games for Disabled Youth in 1986, and Mr Slater spearheaded funding for that, and those games are widely regarded as the forerunner for what we know now as the Paralympic Games."
Peter Smith was a friend and colleague from the Local Radio Council during Mr Slater's time working for BBC Radio Nottingham.
He said: "It's unique how respected he is through the club, whether that's the board, management, players, staff and supporters.
"We all remember his phrases such as 'two to the good' and 'the supporters' joy knows no bounds'.
"His words did get him into trouble on occasion, such as him saying 'Jones is on the edge of the six yard box, and to comment further would be superfluous', to which Jones asked 'what do you mean' excluding profanities.
"When we travelled together to Chelsea for the famous 1981 win (Notts County won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to win promotion to the First Division), Mr Slater could commentate on the game, but could not hear anything from the studio, as there was just one line.
"So I sat there in the crowd with a line to the studio in a deerstalker hat, as it was most likely to stand out, signalling to Mr Slater when to speak; he could have been talking to himself for all that time, but thankfully he was not."
Canon Dr Christina Baxter CBE, a friend and colleague from the Church of England's General Synod, said: "Mr Slater lost his father when he was just 14, and he turned his back on God.
"But his father's friend persuaded him to keep going, to which he did."
Mr Slater was a devout Christian.
Two readings and a psalm followed, before The Venerable Phil Williams, Archdeacon of Nottingham, gave the address.
During this, he said: "Mr Slater was someone who was shaped by his incredible generosity and his faith.
"I've known him since I was nine-years-old, and he was a close family friend; being an Aston Villa fan, he once presented me with a football which was signed by all of the players.
"That was a typical act of kindness by him, and he has supported me throughout my ministerial career.
"He took me to Wembley in 2000 for the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Aston Villa, and when we travelled, he drove so fast I thought I was going to enter the spiritual world earlier than I had anticipated."
A hymn followed, plus prayers led by Keith Stevenson, a member of Christ Church Chilwell.
Before prayers started, he said: "Mr Slater led a full and active life, and he was a fierce friend and colleague to so many people - he had such an instantly recognisable voice on the radio."
The anthem followed, along with the commendation and the committal, then the blessing and hymn before Mr Slater's coffin was carried out of the church.
Mr Slater will be laid to rest alongside his mother and father in his hometown of Bradford.
Tributes had previously been paid ahead to Mr Slater ahead of the funeral by those that knew and worked with him at Notts County, and through his life outside of football, where he had done so much more.
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