National Express honour former conductor at funeral with double-decker bus

Lester Streete worked for West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, since incorporated in the National Express Group, for two decades before retiring in 1977.

He was a popular conductor on the number four Pennfields bus route.

Mr Streete's family said he died peacefully at his home in Court Road, Whitmore Reans, on May 12, aged 102.

His funeral was taking place today at Darlington Street Methodist Church.

National Express have provided the Platinum double-decker to take relatives from the church service to Danescourt cemetery and then to Wolverhampton Racecourse.

The destination on the front of the bus was set to read: 'Mr Lester Streete, One Last Journey'.

Mr Streete's daughter, Eseata Steele, said: “Lester really loved his job. He would always talk about those days - meeting so many people on the bus. He was quite a character.

"As a family, we decided we will celebrate his life and travelling by bus will be the perfect way to do that.”

Madi Pilgrim, HR Director at National Express, added: “We are delighted to be able to support Lester’s family by making this special request a reality.”

Mr Streete left the Caribbean in 1954 and was joined by his late wife Elma in 1963 – the childhood sweethearts had married in Jamaica 20 years earlier.

Initially he worked in a factory before later switching to work on buses.

He was the proud head of a family comprising his five children, 14 grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

His granddaughter Elizabeth McLean, aged 49, said: "When he was on the buses he used to help people with their pushchairs and people with their shopping bags.

"He loved his family. He would do anything for them and was the type of person who loved to share what he had got."

Mr Streete was also a devout Christian who had attended Tabernacle Baptist Church in Dunstall Road.