AS Frank Sinatra's I Did It My Way blasted out from the church, mourners smiled in the knowledge that life-time trucker Ian Campbell had definitely done it his way.
Ian, who lost his eight-month battle with cancer last Sunday week, aged 55, had always wanted to arrive at his funeral in style -- wearing his ERF baseball cap and top with a lorry carrying his coffin -- so his family, friends and fellow truckers made sure his wish came true.
Ian lived for wagons, having worked as a lorry driver since leaving school at 17 right up until he was diagnosed with cancer in January. His last employer, Tyldesley Distribution Services adapted a truck to carry his coffin and his boss Damien Blower drove it to Tyldesley Parish Church.
His wife of 37 years, Dorothy said: "Ian's life was wagons. We had a celebration of his life, we sang All Things Bright and Beautiful and Sinatra's My Way played as we left the church. I know it's the way he would have liked it, he always did things his way."
Ian was also a keen Bolton Wanderers fan and his allegiance was spelled-out in flowers surrounding his coffin.
Dorothy described her husband, who leaves five children and seven grandchildren, as: "A great family man who gave us a lot from his strength. He fought until the end and wasn't afraid of dying. He was afraid of what he was leaving behind."
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