One Eyed Baz funeral: crowds gather to say farewell to Barrington Patterson

The funeral of Barrington Patterson - known as One Eyed Baz - is taking place in Birmingham city centre today.

The former kickboxer, who was also a member of Birmingham City’s infamous Zulu hooligan firm, was a much-loved community activist who, in his later life, campaigned against knife crime and homelessness in the city.

Baz died aged 56 in March after suffering a heart attack while at home.

Locals and fans pay their respects

His funeral procession began at Birmingham’s St Andrew’s stadium at 9am today (20 May), where people gathered to pay their respects before the procession made its way to St Philip’s in Cathedral Square in the city centre, where the service got underway at 10am.

A huge ‘RIP Baz’ banner was also unveiled at the front of St Andrew’s stadium this morning before the procession got underway.

Hundreds of family and friends attended the funeral service today, including British former professional boxing champion Frank Bruno MBE.

Baz grew up in Handsworth and was a former member of Blues’ Zulu hooligan firm.

As a child Barrington was blinded in one eye through an accident, when his sister threw a can at him, which later earned him the name One Eyed Baz.

Baz’s death was announced by his wife Tracey on Twitter on March 22.

She wrote: “At 6am my beloved husband had a massive heart attack. West Midlands Ambulance Service worked for over an hour to save him unfortunately it wasn’t to be our hearts are broken.”

Following Baz’s death, a memorial took place for Barrington on 26 March at the Emporium Gym on Tyburn Road in Erdington where residents gathered to lay flowers.

A monochromatic photograph of Baz was also printed onto one of the walls in Coventry Road, Small Heath - opposite Blues’ home ground.

The street art tribute was created by local artist Foka Wolf.

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