Fitting transport for funeral of former Shropshire driver
A 79-year-old man from Shropshire was given a special send off as he travelled to his funeral in a lorry belonging to a company he used to work for.
The funeral of Leslie Johnson took place at St Mary's Church in Tilston, near Whitchurch, yesterday, and was attended by more than 100 people.
His family thought it would be a fitting tribute to allow him to travel in the lorry he used to drive for haulage firm Alf Arrowsmith & Son, which is based near Market Drayton.
The lorry set off from Whitchurch-based funeral directors Rolfe's before driving past his home in Sharps Drive in the town and then on to the church in Tilston.
The father-of-three, who had previously lived in Woodseaves and Calverhall, near Market Drayton, died from bronchial pneumonia.
Rosemary Thompson, his daughter, said: "He didn't really like black and hearses and talked so much about his life driving the lorry that we thought it would be a fitting end that he was taken to his funeral in it.
"The funeral went very well. He was a popular man and I would say over 100 people turned up, including friends and family.
"He had lots of friends and interesting hobbies. He bred birds and won lots of trophies. He was fond of caravanning and particularly liked going to Wales."
By James Pugh
