Ice cream seller’s funeral cortege followed by convoy of 10 colourful ice cream vans

AN ice cream seller was given a fitting send-off by colleagues who followed his funeral cortege in a convoy of ten colourful ice cream vans. John Lennie was so dedicated to his job that he was still doing his rounds two days before he died of a heart attack at the age of 79. His […]

AN ice cream seller was given a fitting send-off by colleagues who followed his funeral cortege in a convoy of ten colourful ice cream vans.

John Lennie was so dedicated to his job that he was still doing his rounds two days before he died of a heart attack at the age of 79.

BNPS

Ice cream seller John Lennie was given a fitting send-off by colleagues[/caption]

BNPS

John was so dedicated to his job that he was still doing his rounds two days before he died of a heart attack at the age of 79[/caption]

His daughter Jemma led the procession in her dad’s van, with its Colonel Bogey March chimes ringing out.

As the service took place, one vendor handed out free 99s in tribute.

Scotland-born John, known as Mr Mac, worked in Wimborne, Dorset, for 48 years.

Jemma said: “He always said it’s either me or the van which goes first — unfortunately, it was him.”

She added: “It was absolutely amazing. My breathe was taken away by the sight of all those people lining the streets. I had to really concentrate on driving as I was crying.”

Jemma said: “Dad had three to four generations of families who grew up with him as customers.

“One woman said she was so happy that her daughter was able to meet him and taste his ice cream like she had as a child.

BNPS

John with his granddaughters Rhianna and Abbigail[/caption]

BNPS

Free ice creams were handed out in Wimborne town square to mark the occasion[/caption]

BNPS

John spent over 40 years selling ice creams from his trusty van[/caption]

BNPS

John with his first ever ice cream van[/caption]

BNPS

John served ice creams to 4 generations of the Ware family – pictured Debbie, daughter Kirsty and Tiana[/caption]

BNPS

Daughter Jemma said: ‘He never retired. Every year he said he might retire but every year he said, ‘I can’t do it’[/caption]

BNPS

Jemma added: ‘There are people who are now aged in their late 40s who remember him from when they were four-years-old’[/caption]

“There are people who are now aged in their late 40s who remember him from when they were four-years-old.

“Someone messaged me who has an autistic son, and she said my dad used to come to the driveway at the same time every week, which really helped her boy.

“He never retired. Every year he said he might retire but every year he said, ‘I can’t do it.’