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Friday, 4 December 2009

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David Beckham: I'll come home for Grandad's funeral

Becks will stay in South Africa in honour of Joseph West

David Beckham took Joseph West to Buckingham Palace in 2003 to see the Queen give him his OBE

David Beckham is not planning to rush back to the UK following the passing of his grandfather.

Joseph West - the father of Becks' mum Sandra - died aged 83 at his London home on Wednesday after a long battle with lung cancer.

LA Galaxy star David has decided to stay in South Africa, where he is spearheading England's campaign to host the World Cup, because it's what Joe would have wanted. 

'Me being out here is something which my grandad was proud of me being a part of,' he says.

'If I had decided to go back home I know what he would have said to me, which I can't repeat. He was a strong East End person.

'Grandad would have shouted at me for leaving this because he was passionate about his country. He fought for his country and I know how proud he was of me. He would have wanted me to stay.'

David will be back in time to lay Joseph to rest. 

'Your families come together at times like this but he would not have wanted me to have upped and left and gone home,' he tells The Sun. 'I will be there for the funeral though, without a doubt.'

David and son Brooklyn, 10, have Joseph as their middle names. 

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