Darts world says goodbye to Jocky Wilson

Family and friends were joined by figures from the world of darts to bid a final farewell to Wilson, who suffered with the lung disorder chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and passed away at his home in Kirkcaldy, Fife last Saturday, two days after his 62nd birthday.

Around 400 people, including Eric Bristow, packed Kirkcaldy Crematorium leaving many others standing outside to hear about a “wonderful and loving” father whose most important role in life had been to provide for his family, his three children, Anne Marie, John and William, and six grandchildren.

During the service, conducted by Denis Madden, mourners heard how he would have celebrated his 44th wedding anniversary with wife Malvina next month.

He told how the two-time world champion never sought the fame his success brought him after he first picked up darts in a local pub when the team were a player down.

“Jocky would be the first to tell you that work in its own right was a means to an end, all he wanted out of it was to provide well for his wife and family.”

Wilson started his career in 1979 and reached at least the quarter-finals of every World Championship between then and 1991, winning the title in 1982 and 1989. He was also a four-time British champion between 1981 and 1988 and a three-time Scottish Masters champion.

He was a founding member of the Professional Darts Corporation and is acknowledged as one of the main forerunners of the game’s current popularity.

Floral tributes spelling out “Jocky” and “Dad” were laid beside his coffin alongside dartboards made from flowers as the hearse arrived, and his coffin was carried into the building to the song Impossible Dream as mourners flooded in behind.

Bristow, speaking after the service, said: “Every sport needs characters and Jocky was a big one of ours. Scotland should be proud of him.”