Drivers on A13 abuse funeral for Rawreth granddad Peter Struce

Tributes have flooded in for Rawreth’s Peter Struce, who passed away aged 71 last month, dying suddenly at his home.

His family organised his procession and funeral service at the Pitsea crematorium, but had their day left in turmoil because of shocking behaviour from drivers.

On several occasions, lorries and cars cut in between the hearse, limousine, and Mercedes behind, on their journey from Rawreth to Pitsea.

Peter and his wife Margaret

And in one situation, a driver on the A13 refused to move from the procession, causing the limousine to overtake him to be behind the hearse.

READ MORE:

• New takeaway store opens at Lakeside...and here's what you can buy
• 'True gent' and music icon Rod Stewart pops in for Sunday lunch at south Essex pub

The driver then wound down his window to shout and swear at the family, before “waving his arms around.”

Nicola Benson, 32, Mr Struce’s niece, said: “It completely ruined it.

“His grandkids were really upset and stressed out. It’s not how you want to send off your grandad at all and not what we wanted.

“It was just really disrespectful and rude. It made for a terrible experience.

“The service was really lovely.

“Lorries and cars were driving so close behind the hearse and the limousine, it was horrible.”

Family and friends have raised more than £1,000 for the Make a Wish charity in Peter’s memory.

Mrs Benson added: “We were all really close with him.

“He was a lovely man.

“He brought his kids up in Benfleet, before moving to Rayleigh and Rawreth.”

Peter’s family described him as “one of the most wonderful, generous and caring men anyone would ever want to meet.”

His granddaughter Francesca wrote on the fundraising page: “He made me laugh with his no nonsense ways.

“I love how he would ring me up after watching films on Netflix, he would rate them out of five stars.

“He was a fairytale Grandad and really perfect in every way.”

“Instead of flowers we are asking for people to donate to Make a Wish.

“It’s a wonderful charity that does so much selfless and amazing work.”