Final journey for steam enthusiast (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Final journey for steam enthusiast

Ref. 28884-24Roy Bridgeman's dying wish was to be carried on a steam engine one last time and today his request was being honoured.

Family and friends have arranged for one of Mr Bridgeman's beloved traction engines to take his body to Kingsdown Crematorium.

The former Great Western Railway worker, from Stratton St Margaret, died aged 66 after a two-year battle against bowel cancer.

His wife Therese, 73, said: "Roy loved steam engines all his life. During his illness he mentioned wanting one instead of a hearse. He laughed but was being serious."

Mr Bridgeman left school at 14 to start work as an office boy at the GWR. This marked the start of his passion for steam engines, which grew as he went on to become a fitter and turner at the works.

During the 1950s, he was called up for National Service and joined the Navy. Mr Bridgeman was posted to Turkey, where he met Therese.

Mrs Bridgeman was learning English at the time, so decided to continue seeing him. Within six months they were married at the British Consulate, on November 4, 1961.

The following year the couple returned to Swindon and Mr Bridgeman got an engineering job at Pressed Steel. They started a family and had two children, Ann, 40, and Peter, 37. Ann, who lives in Ermin Street, has a 21-year-old son, Daniel.

The grandfather-of-one later worked at Crosby Doors, before taking early retirement nine years ago.

A loyal member of the Cotswold Oil Engine Preservation Society, he enjoyed going to steam rallies across the country and helped start the annual Strawberries and Steam rally held at Lotmead Farm, in Lower Wanborough.

Mrs Bridgeman said: "Roy was in hospital last June. But he persuaded the doctors to let him out for an hour so he could attend the rally. He was a real fighter and such a generous, loving man."

Today at 11am, a Burrell steam traction engine, built in 1901, was carrying Mr Bridgeman's coffin from his home in Blake Crescent to Kingsdown Crematorium.

The engine belongs to his friends Colin Hatch and Richard Hurley.

Mr Hatch, 48, from Lower Wanborough, said: "This is the perfect send off for Roy.

"He was an accomplished engineer with a great sense of humour.

"I will certainly miss having a beer with him at steam rallies."

The memorial service was starting at noon and donations may be sent to Prospect Hospice, in Moormead Road, Wroughton, where Mr Bridgeman received treatment.

Victoria Tagg