Farewell with a smile to see off Blackburn bus conductor in style

3:27pm Saturday 3rd May 2008

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A RELIANT Rialto and a six-piece jazz band led the funeral cortege of a grandad 'who made everyone smile'.

The three wheeler, with St George's flags flying from the windows, led mourners up Rhyddings Street, Oswaldtwistle, yesterday, to the funeral of George Welsh, 82, who died after a short illness on April 18.

More than 100 people packed in to St Mary's Church, Catlow Hall Road, to celebrate the life of the former bus conductor who lived in Portree Crescent, Shadsworth, Blackburn, for 40 years, before moving to Braeside Nursing Home, Stanhill.

Mr Welsh planned his funeral in the months before his death and wanted Pendle Jazzmen and the Reliant, which was christened George's Whistle, to lead the hearse to the church.

He even wanted the band to play Happiness by Ken Dodd as everyone entered the church During the service, Mr Welsh's daughter Susan, who was joined by his other children Rita, Steven, and Sandra, paid tribute to her father.

She said: "What can you say about this man who drove around in his three-wheeler rocket? He was a bus conductor for Blackburn Bus Corporation.

"He had fun on the buses and his buses were known for the music and singing on them. It was known as the music bus.

"He had the midas touch to make everyone he came in touch with smile."

Mourners sang the hymns Walk With Me Oh My Lord and I The Lord of Sea and Sky, before the coffin was carried out to Oh Lord my God. All the hymns were chosen by Mr Welsh.