HE has been described as the 'Grandfather of the Sportsmans Arms', a true gent and of the town's biggest Warrington Wolves fans.

But this Friday friends of James Patrick Maguire, better known as Jock, are preparing to say goodbye to the popular Scot.

The 85-year-old has been given weeks to live by doctors after stomach cancer has spread to other parts of his body but rather than shedding tears, Penketh pub The Sportsmans Arms have organised 'A celebration of life' evening for all of Jock's friends.

The former Warrington Hospital and ambulance employee said: "The Sportsmans Arms have been awfully good to me.

"I'm not saying that many will end up going but at the last count there was going to be 670 people attending and they have been borrowing chairs from other pubs.

"They have left books for people to write in too and said they're piling up with seven filled already."

Jock was adopted from an orphanage and moved to the town when he was five-years-old.

He married Cynthia on February 14, 1953 at St Joseph’s Church and for 45 years they never missed a Warrington Wolves game home or away.

Known by many at matches or driving around the Great Sankey area on his mobility scooter in his high vis jacket, Jock and Cynthia do not have children but have made up for it with countless friends.

He added: "They all know me on my scooter with 'Jock 1' on the plates and Wolfie on the back and wave to me.

"A big fire engine pulled up next to me the other day and I could hear them singing 'Jock is a Wire'.

"I've had police I used to work with coming to see me too.

"I'm not used to it (the attention) but it is touching."

Jock's 'Celebration of life' event takes place at the Sportmans Arms, Warrington Road, from 5pm.