Bus tribute to ex-conductor Lester, 102, on his final journey
He worked on the buses for more than two decades and on his final journey a specially commissioned double-decker followed his hearse in one of the city's biggest funerals.
The platinum-coloured bus bore the destination 'Mr Lester Streete, One Last Journey' in a moving tribute to the 102-year-old former bus conductor from his old employers.
Mr Streete worked for the then West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive for two decades before retiring in 1977. He sold tickets on the Number 4 Pennfields bus route where his cheerful, caring nature earned him the nickname Mr Friendly.
The bus bore members of the family from Darlington Street Methodist Church in Wolverhampton to Danescourt cemetery for burial and on to Wolverhampton Racecourse for a reception.
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 wanted to celebrate his life and travelling by bus was the perfect way to do that.”
Madi Pilgrim, human resources director at National Express, added: “We were delighted to be able to support Lester’s family by making this special request a reality.”
Earlier around 500 mourners packed into the city centre church to say farewell to the much loved elder statesman of the Afro-Caribbean community who died peacefully at his home in Court Road, Whitmore Reans, last month.
Many tributes were made to the great-great-grandfather in speeches, song and music. He was one of the first Jamaican 'pioneers' to come to Wolverhampton and, when he died on May 12, was believed to be the oldest.
Relatives and friend came from Canada and all over the UK, including London, Manchester, Nottingham and Leicester. Among the many floral tributes to the cricket superfan was a cricket bat and ball in the colours of the Jamaican flag.
Loved for his easy wit and humorous sayings, he had instructed his son Telford Streete to keep his funeral eulogy 'as short as a mini-skirt.'
But funny stories were in abundance at the service, including the time in his home town of Hanover, Jamaica, when he successfully restored the family's ageing cow Blackie, by then grey, to her original colour by applying black boot polish to get a better price for her at market.
Terry Streete, who travelled from Canada for the funeral, spoke of his grandfather's 'street swagger', recalling his good looks, style and charm.
Great-great-granddaughter Erin McLean gave a reading while great-granddaughter Fallon Fraser-Burke sang Amazing Grace.
Grandson Kudjoe Boafoo spoke of Christmas morning gatherings of ackee and hymn-singing and of his grandfather's 'world-famous' soup and drinking chocolate.
Mr Streete, the fourth of nine children, left the Caribbean in 1954 and initially worked in a factory before moving to the buses. His son said he worked hard and was able to sponsor four of his brothers to join him.
In 1963, his late wife Elma, a childhood sweetheart whom he had married in Hanover 20 years earlier, arrived with their two sons. The couple went on to have five children, 14 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren and also had several 'adopted' children.
The congregation heard that Mr Streete had a strong Christian faith, always wearing a badge that said 'Got a problem? Call on Jesus' and went out of his way to help newly arrived West Indians to find work and accommodation.
His granddaughter Elizabeth McLean, 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."
The service for Mr Streete, who attended Tabernacle Baptist Church in Dunstall Road, was held at Darlington Street Methodist Church to accommodate the expected large turn-out.
