17.01.2010

A telehandler for a hearse

When the recently departed George Ardley was due to be buried there was a problem in that the heavy snows and freezing weather prevented the hearse from reaching Saddleworth church near Oldham, Manchester.

After the funeral was postponed once and a second delay was looking likely the late farmer’s family and friends came up with the bright idea to rent in a telescopic handler to carry his coffin to the funeral.
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George Ardley makes takes his last ride...in a telehandler

Telehandler operator Mick Harrington first of all used the machine to clear a path through the 2ft (600mm) deep snow to the church before carrying the coffin to the ceremony. After the service, Ardley’s coffin was loaded into the Manitou telehandler’s bucket and driven to the cemetery with mourners walking behind.

Ardley’s cousin Glenys Henshaw said: "George was a really jovial man who loved a joke and would have seen the funny side of this and would have loved his send-off."