THE family of local man, John Longdon, who died earlier this month, arranged for unusual transport for his final journey as he was taken to the crematorium on a JCB – in honour of his working life with plant machinery.
John died on 3rd February at the age of 78 and his funeral was held at Semington Crematorium on Wednesday 19th February.
It was John’s wife, Eileen, who came up with the idea and, much to her amazement, her family agreed.
Juliet Longdon, John’s daughter said, “We thought it was the most appropriate way of him travelling as he always worked with plant machinery and concrete. So it was a way of honouring that.
“He was a very uncomplicated man, he was always outside gardening and digging. He didn’t like bad weather because that meant he couldn’t get outside and do what he wanted to do. It was hard in his last three months as he was less able to do these things.
“He was the type to be able to mend anything. I’d often find things that are broken so I could take them to him, to keep him busy and he would fix them in his garage.
“He would be well known in the area through his work with concrete and Tarmac and will be sorely missed by all.”
John was born in Bradford on Avon and lived in Trowbridge/Southwick. He then moved away to the New Forest but returned to the area three years ago and lived in Westbury.
He leaves behind his wife, Eileen, three children Sarah, Juliet and Paul and five grandchildren.
