7:00am Friday 22nd January 2010
By Leanne Fender
Fencer David Jessup’s dying wish was to be carried to his funeral on the back of a lorry driven by his boss.
And that was exactly what happened at the funeral procession of Mr Jessup – who died aged 61 after working as a fencer in Sutton for 35 years.
Phil Blake, owner of the Crescent Fencing Company drove a company lorry to take Mr Jessup’s body, , from his daughter Felicity Sadler’s house in Morden to the service at North East Surrey Crematorium in Garth Road.
Mr Jessup died on January 7 after a battle with lung cancer. During his life he enjoyed fishing, horses, darts and snooker.
Mr Blake said: “Dave was the salt of the earth, always ready to help out a mate and will be sorely missed by his many friends.”
Mr Blake’s son David, who worked alongside Mr Jessup, said: “David was an expert fencer and worked until he was too ill to carry on.
“He had what we call a fencer’s funeral.”
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