Mourners line streets near Stoney’s Barber Shop to say final goodbye to South Shields 'legend' Allan Stone

Mourners gathered at the famous Stoney’s Barber Shop on Laygate to pay respects to the much-loved and respected barber Allan Stone who suddenly died last month.
Tributes were left outside Stoney's Barber Shop.Tributes were left outside Stoney's Barber Shop.
Tributes were left outside Stoney's Barber Shop.

Mourners turned out on Tuesday, February 9 to line the streets of South Shields to pay tribute to Master Barber Allan Stone, who died suddenly at the age of 46.

A service for his family and close friends heard that praised the late businessman for ‘his sheer lust for life’ and was told that although he was ‘always late’ he was ‘a giant of a man with the heart of a lion, [that] will leave a giant sized hole in everyone’s life’.

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People united to mourn and pay respects laying flowers and tributes outside Stoney’s Barber Shop in Laygate Lane in memory of Allan.

Funeral of Allan Stone outside his barber shop at Laygate.Funeral of Allan Stone outside his barber shop at Laygate.
Funeral of Allan Stone outside his barber shop at Laygate.
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Tributes paid following the shock death of 'legend' South Shields master barber ...

Friends, family and the barbering world hailed his skills, and enthusiasm for his profession after his death on January 28.

Mourners stood socially distant, with some wearing face masks along Laygate Lane and applauded as the funeral procession passed by the shop.

Photos, messages and flowers were left outside the barber shop before the service was held at St. Bede’s Church attended by a limited number of people due to covid restrictions.

Well wishers gathered to pay tribute to Allan Stone.Well wishers gathered to pay tribute to Allan Stone.
Well wishers gathered to pay tribute to Allan Stone.
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A fundraiser set up by Allan’s close friend Sean Shabilla has now raised over £31,000 to help cover costs of the funeral and support Allan’s family.

The eulogy read at the funeral service said: “Everyone sitting here today has been in a room with Allan and knows the amount of energy and light he filled that room with.

"You will no doubt have been impacted by this energy and had your spirits lifted, even if you were feeling down beforehand.

"He just had that ability – that magical essence that most of us do not have – the ability to make us all feel better about ourselves and about life in general.”

Flowers were laid outside Allan Stone's barber shop at Laygate.Flowers were laid outside Allan Stone's barber shop at Laygate.
Flowers were laid outside Allan Stone's barber shop at Laygate.
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During the funeral service mourner were told of Allan’s love and passion for sport, his customers, his job and friends and family.

The small group of mourners in the church were told: “Making plans with four different people for the same time was one of his specialities, especially when he sometime didn’t turn up for any of the arranged meetings.

"He certainly wasn’t perfect, but he was imperfectly perfect for us.”

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