DIGGER driver Melvin Baker's dying wish came true when he made his final journey in a JCB.
The Cinderford great granddad, 79, repeatedly told friends and family that he wanted to be taken to his final resting place by his favourite form of transport.
His former boss, builder Keith Bell, arranged for a JCB to lead the funeral procession from the family home to St Stephen's Church and then on to Yew Tree Brake crematorium.
As mourners lined the way, his coffin was transferred to the JCB bucket. The Rev Pat Allen led the procession for the final part of the journey.
Widow Jean said: "He was loved and respected by everybody and we wanted him to have the send off he deserved.
"It was the one thing he said he wanted for his funeral. It was perfect, exactly what he wanted."
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Harrow Hill-born Melvin moved to Cinderford as a schoolboy and used to pinch his dad's motorbike to ride in the woods. But he settled down when he went to work for Keith Bell's father Jim. Keith remained a family friend.
"He ended up driving the diggers for us and told me he wanted to make his final journey in one," said Keith.
"When he first brought it up I thought he was joking, but he kept going on and on about it.
"After he died, I dreaded bringing it up with his family, but Jean just said, 'we've got to do it for him, Keith, he went on about it all the time'."
Melvin's love of diggers started while working with building firm WF Giles after national service in Singapore.
It continued when he went back to work for KW Bell, where he stayed until he was 70. He drove his digger between home and work.
Melvin met Jean when she worked in a newsagent shop near a building site and at one time they ran the Royal Oak pub on Littledean Road. They were regulars on trips with Beard's coaches. They had three children, Judith, who died suddenly earlier this year, Graham and Andrew. The keen skittles player was also devoted to his five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The Everton fan was a founding member of Hilldene FC and, in his latter years, used to go on his scooter to watch grandson Jamie play football. Devastated Jamie said: "He lived for his family and his digger."