Coffin of Scarborough plumber Ray Milburn driven around town on his beloved VW truck before funeral

Currently in Scarborough, only five members of immediate family are allowed to attend funeral services at Woodlands Crematorium, meaning many people are unable to grieve as they usually would.

The family of Ray Milburn, who died suddenly aged 73 on April 22, were keen to do something to allow those who wished to say goodbye to him to do so in some way while still following social-distancing.

Born on January 8 1947, Ray had lived in Scarborough all his life and worked as a plumber and a builder in the area.

He was active until the end, helping family and friends well into his retirement and was often spotted driving around town in his beloved VW truck.

His family therefore organised to drive his coffin on the back of his truck through town, along Royal Albert and Marine Drives and the Foreshore, to allow people who knew him to come outside and say a farewell as he went past.

The truck was driven by Ray’s son Jonathan behind the funeral car, accompanied by Ray’s wife of 46 years Judy, his daughter Nicola and Jonathan’s children Katie, 6, and Leo, 2.

Ray’s surviving sister Margaret joined the funeral cortege, driving her car behind the truck.

Ray’s friends, family and past customers turned out to pay their respects to him one final time.

Although Ray didn’t die due to coronavirus, visiting restrictions caused by it meant his family weren’t able to be with him at the hospital when he died.

His daughter Nicola said seeing people turn out to say goodbye to her dad was “heartwarming” and represented the best send-off possible in the current circumstances.

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