A man has taken "one last ride" on his son's coach as part of an inside joke - to his own funeral.
Joe McCrystal from Glasgow, who died aged 88, spent his retirement "pottering about" at son David's coach yard - where a running joke began that Joe would have a coach instead of a hearse at his funeral. Joe supported David and his wife Linda Ann as they grew their business, LA Travel, from just one bus in 1997 to a fleet of 12 today.
After retiring from his job as a foundry maintenance engineer and handyman for Arnold Clark, Joe found himself heading to the coach yard for the day armed with his cheese-and-tomato sandwiches and singing his favourite song, Puff the Magic Dragon. When Joe passed away, David asked his daughter-in-law Karen O'Neill - a funeral arranger at Co-op's Tollcross funeral home if she would conduct Joe's funeral.
Karen set to work, arranging for one of David's coaches to be fitted with straps in the coach's locker to hold the coffin in place to honour Joe's final request. Joe arrived to the funeral in his unique hearse - with mourners agreeing that it was a fitting tribute. Much to the family's delight, most of the mourners saw the funny side - with a few letting out a laugh.
David said: "I couldn't have asked for a better send-off for my dad; all my requests were met and to a very high standard. I'm glad my dad got his wish." Co-op's funeral arranger Karen said: "It was a privilege to arrange and conduct the funeral of my grandfather-in-law and to ensure that his final request was honoured and carried out so perfectly.
"It certainly was a unique funeral to put together and a first for me; I've seen horses and motorcycles before but never a coach! We so often believe that funerals need to be strictly traditional, but here at Co-op Funeralcare, we help those who want to move away from a traditional funeral and create a unique tribute that is more fitting with their loved one's personality.
"Choosing something a little different can also make the occasion more light-hearted, not as daunting and help many through the grieving process. Joe's funeral did exactly that."