Well, the Send-Off for "Young Jack" went really well yesterday.
We all finally learned his last name, Reynolds, from his only surviving relative, his daughter Jenny.
To the surprise of almost everyone, 2 of our local Bus Drivers, both being Cabinet Makers/Carpenters, made Jack a casket shaped like a Bus and from locally sourced She-oak as well.
We had a complete bus load of friends and acquaintances of Young Jack aboard when the procession left the Funeral Directors, plus about 15 other cars following on behind.
Despite a slight protest from the Funeral Director over conveying Jack via mini-bus instead of their Hearse, soon sorted out with the ' no so quiet intervention' of Jack's daughter, Jenny, Jacks Last Ride took him almost the entire way around town BEFORE arriving at the Cemetery where he was laid to rest and as his casket was lowered everyone was asked to drop into the grave a handful unused Bus Tickets with NO expiry time or dates on them in lieu of flowers.
It was also arranged that Jack was buried in the uniform of a Bus Driver and that in his honour, the theme from the British Show, " On the Buses" be played before and after the Service, during the Procession and at the grave-side and, in accordance with Jacks most sternest of wishes, " No Bloody Pulpit-Pounding Preachers or 'frigging' mentions of God/Jesus and religion at his Service" were permitted.