THE family of a York man say they are unhappy that their wishes for his funeral are not being taken into account.

Arthur Jackson, known to his friends and family as Mick, died on January 1, aged 82, and his funeral is on Tuesday.

However, his family say they are upset that their wishes have been refused by St Joseph's Catholic church in Clifton - a church Mr Jackson attended for many years.

Diane Vincent, Mr Jackson’s daughter, said the family have asked for a recording of Dean Martin’s Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On to be played at the service, but the request had been denied by church officials.

She said: “We are all quite upset anyway that it’s taken so long. Dad needed a post mortem and there was a ten to 14 day backlog to start with. My mum is so sad, and I’m pretty cross about the whole situation.

"I can't believe it. We're so upset and angry."

She said her father was a proud Catholic, and said: "He went every week in a suit and tie and we went every week as children until we left home. We've all been brought up as Catholics, my sister and I both got married there. All the priests my dad knew have either died or retired and it feels all quite impersonal."

The song was written as a country song by Hank Locklin in 1958, and released in the USA by Dean Martin in 1965, and Mrs Vincent said it reminded her and her family of her father, as he used to sing it and other songs from that period to them.

York Press:

She said: “We just want to play one song as dad is carried into church. Every time we hear this song, we cry as just sounds like my dad and it means so much to us.”

Mrs Vincent said she had attended a funeral at the church in December where a song had been played as the coffin was brought into the service, so felt the decision not to allow the song to be played at her father’s funeral was unfair.

She said: “We just wanted to do what my dad would have wanted on the day, play a nice song as he’s being carried into the church and I know they do it. It’s not normal, it’s not right.”

The Press contacted Father Richard Duffield of St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church in York, who is currently responsible for St Joseph’s in Clifton.

Fr Duffield said the funeral was a private matter between the family and the church, and no further comment would be given.

Canon Derek Turnham, communications officer for the Diocese of Middlesbrough, said there was a longstanding position for the Church in England and Wales that “only music that is appropriate for services in church is sacred music, as opposed to pop music”.

Fr Turnham said local priests had some discretion whether to play alternative music or not, but it could be possible for the family to have the music played following the cremation service, after the funeral.

He said: “We regret very much that a situation has arisen like this at a time when they are facing very deep grief at the loss of their father.

“It is a hugely sensitive and difficult time for a family so we regret very much that circumstances have led to this added difficulty for them.”