THE life of a Hereford businessman has been celebrated with a funeral procession on the back of a potato delivery van.

Geoff Hinksman, founder of Geoff Hinksman Potatoes, died at St Michael’s Hospice, aged 80.

As a mark of respect and in recognition of the near 30 years he spent establishing the Kings Acre Road-based business, his family arranged for the coffin to be taken to the funeral service in Stretton Sugwas on the back of one of the firm’s vans.

Mr Hinksman, who was born in Moccas, set up the potato firm in 1980 and lived on site.

A keen golfer, he was a member of the Herefordshire Golf Club at Wormsley for about 30 years.

Mr Hinksman had been battling a leukaemia variant and his family has since paid tribute to the hospice where he died.

“St Michael’s staff were fantastic,” said his son, Darryl. “It was such a happy place and I couldn’t think of a better place for my father to end his days.”

The family is asking for any donations to be made to St Michael’s Hospice and Stretton Sugwas Church via funeral director Dawe Brothers.