Billy's final adventure; FAMILY TO SCATTER ASHES OF BELOVED DAD IN HIS FAVOURITE PLACES.

Byline: By ROB PATTINSON

DURING his life, popular Billy Blight loved taking his family on adventures.

Now they plan to scatter his ashes over 12 special spots around the UK in his memory.

The Beech Hill Primary School caretaker, of West Denton, Newcastle, died on October 27, aged 53.

Just nine weeks earlier, Billy, born and raised in Lemington, was told by doctors he had incurable liver cancer.

A crowd of 400 past pupils and friends paid their respects during his funeral, at Wester-hope Methodist Church, where the keen sportsman was laid to rest in his cricket whites.

Now, to honour Billy's sense of fun, his widow Jill, 47, daughter Louise, 23, and sons Chris, 24, and Martin, 18, plan to fire some of his ashes into the air inside a firework, as part of their new year celebrations.

Then the family intend to scatter some at the cricket crease where he spent so many happy hours captaining Stamfordham Cricket Club in Northumberland.

Next on their list are the Norfolk Broads, Loch Tay and Loch Ness, Coniston Water, Hawkers Cove, Seahouses, the Ingram Valley and Whitby - all testament to the fantastic times they shared with wonderful Billy.

Some will be scattered at a planned cricket crease and living memorial at Beech Hill primary.

And some will be taken to South Shields, when Jill moves to be nearer family.

She said: "We devastated he's gone, but we're focusing on the quality of his life, not the quantity.

"He loved family holidays, Christmas, and birthdays. I know he'd want us to concentrate on all the happy times.

"Anyone who spent time with him always felt better. He was so humble, he wouldn't believe how much people appreciated him, how many people loved him to bits. He took time for everyone and took so many people under his wing.

"All of the places we want to visit are special. Seahouses was the first place he took me on a date. We were married eight months later and people said it would never last, but it did - 26 years."

Daughter Louise said: "We're going to Hawkers Cove, in Cornwall, because it's really secluded.

"My dad discovered it when he was fishing one day.

"He loved harbours, which is why we're going to Whitby. He was a wonderful dad, which is why we want to honour his memory together."

The family would like to thank everyone at the Marie Curie Hospice.

CAPTION(S):

FONDLY REMEMBERED: Just some of the many tributes left for Billy; DEVOTED TO HIS CHILDREN: Billy with his son Martin, playing for Stamfordham Cricket Club and, right, Billy at his daughter's wedding; MEMORIES: Jill Blight with her daughter Louise and son Martin