Jazz bus takes Chris on last ride

Stafford said farewell to popular local solicitor Chris Lee in the same way he lived his life - with style.

Mr Lee's coffin was taken to the service at St Mary's Church on a double decker Midland Red bus - carrying family and friends, with a six-piece jazz band playing on the top deck.

The church was packed with colleagues and friends of the dapper lawyer whose trademark was a fresh carnation in his button-hole every day.

After the service the entourage continued by bus to Stafford Crematorium to the music of West Midlands based The Antique Six Jazz Band.

Drummer Graham Smith, from Redditch, said: "We were asked to play bright happy traditional jazz to entertain the mourners and that is what we have been playing."

Nick Balmforth, of Stafford Jazz Society, was asked to arrange the band. "I was at school with Chris but I never knew until the request was made that he was keen on jazz.

"It was the most unusual request I have ever had."

The bus was provided by Midland Red Coaches, of Coventry, and is similar to the fleet which used to service Stafford in the 60s and 70s.

Driver Ashley Wakelin said Midland Red has 11 of the buses which are used for special occasions. "We do the odd funeral, but you don't often get asked to take the coffin on board as well.

"In fact we had to get special permission from the local authority for that. And the jazz band made the journey very jolly."

The bus was also given an escort of police outriders to ensure a smooth journey.

Mr Lee, who died a fortnight ago at the age of 60, was a senior partner in Pickering & Butters, Greengate Street, until he was forced to retire on health grounds.

He was also a former President of the Rotary Club of Stafford Castle and was very much involved in charity work.

Colleagues, court staff and magistrates have all paid triubute to the man described as "one of the finest criminal defence advocates, one of the great characters of the courtroom and one of nature's true gentlemen".