A stunt plane, hired by his daughter for his funeral, was the final spectacular tribute for retired Burnley nurse Chris Miller.

Determined to do ‘something big’ for her father, Orchid Miller came up with the idea for the light aircraft, that became a talking point across Burnley when it was spotted by dozens of people while performing a series of stunts and acrobatics.

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Explaining the reason behind her decision to hire the plane Orchid, who is the youngest of Chris’s seven children said: “Anyone who knew my dad would have known that he had an ‘all or nothing’ attitude to life, his personal saying was ‘100 per cent guaranteed’ so I knew I had to do something big for his funeral.

Lifelong Clarets fan and retired Burnley nurse Chris Miller, who has died aged 71, pictured out on the town with two friends

“And I know he would be so incredibly proud to be in the Burnley Express.”

Held at Burnley Crematorium on Hallowe’en, mourners were serenaded by saxophonist Alistair Grant and there was a release of doves as another tribute to Chris. Orchid has thanked Accrington based Jenson’s Funeral Directors, for helping her to make her wishes come true for her dad’s final send off.

She said: “One of my dad’s sole purposes in life was to make others smile. That would be his mission every day. As his daughter I thought if there’s a way to put a smile on people’s faces, even at his funeral, then I have already won. The saxophone player lightened the mood and the dove release was beautiful, but the plane was really the cherry on top.

“ Not only did it make everyone smile, it forced everyone to look up. In retrospect, to hold your head high, even in sadness. A life lesson dad taught me.”

Former nurse and lifelong Clarets fan Chris Miller who has died aged 71. His daughter arranged for a stunt plane to fly above his funeral at Burnley Crematorium as a unique tribute for him

A former student at St Peter’s Primary School in Burnley and the former Mansfield High School in Brierfield, Chris worked for many years at Burnley General Hospital. A lifelong Clarets fan, he enjoyed a pint and was a regular visitor to many pubs in Burnley, and his most recent favourite haunt was The Coal Yard in Hargreaves Street. Chris enjoyed horse racing, collecting antiques, listening to music and playing the ‘slot’ machines. In his younger days he enjoyed visiting casinos where he was known for his ‘all or nothing’ attitude at the table.

Chris also leaves his wife Bat, two brothers and a sister, grandchildren and many friends.