Hundreds in farewell to haulier Ed

Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their last respects to Staffordshire businessman Ed Weetman.

The haulage firm boss's coffin was conveyed to his funeral in style - on the back of one his own lorries, adapted to serve as a hearse.

The service at St Stephen's Church, Great Haywood, yesterday was attended by more than 700 people. Coaches were hired to ferry employees of Mr Weetman's firm from its Pasturefields headquarters to the church and Great Haywood came to a standstill as the procession made its way through the village.

Mr Weetman, who died at his home in Weston last Monday at the age of 67, was a former chairman of Stafford Rangers, a former vice-chairman of Stoke City FC and until his death was chairman of Stafford Conservative Association.

He founded his business, Ed Weetman Haulage and Storage, more than 40 years ago and expanded it to become one of the biggest of its kind in the region.

Barry Baggott, a close friend of Mr Weetman, attended yesterday's service and also the wake, which was held at the County Showground.

He said the late businessman would have been proud of the efforts his family and friends had gone to and the day would be remembered "for a long time to come". He said: "It went very, very well and the attention to detail shown was of the same level with which he ran his businesses.

"He would have been so proud of everybody - it was wonderful. There was close to 800 people there and it's testament to the man that so many turned out."

Mr Baggott also described how workers at workers at Mr Weetman's Pasturefields-based haulage firm had spent the previous night meticulously polishing the lorry cab which was to be used as the hearse.

He added: "It was absolutely wonderful what they did and he would have been delighted - it was done in style and it was done well."

Mr Weetman left behind two daughters, Kate and Elaine, and his partner Jenny.

Express & Star columnist Peter Atkins was a close friend of Mr Weetman's and, speaking after his death, described him as a "big-hearted character" and a "self-made man" who had gone on to create many jobs and opportunities for people living throughout the Stafford area.