Basildon: 'Lovely Jubbly' farewell for cabbie Steve

Basildon fundraiser Steve Holloway, of Long Riding, was honoured on Friday with loved ones taking on the roles of the comedy characters.

But first he brought a smile to people’s faces once more, with an Only Fools And Horses-themed procession, complete with a hearse styled like the Trotter’s Independent Traders threewheeled van.

His daughter Claire and his best friend’s daughter Maria ran ahead of the van dressed like Batman and Robin, invoking the classic 1996 Christmas episode where Del Boy and Rodney were dressed like the Caped Crusaders at a fancy dress party.

Grand-daughter Kaidie Holloway said he would have found Friday’s service and procession very funny.

She said: “He had a few illnesses and was in and out of hospital, but caught Covid and sadly died.

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“The service was held from his home to the Pitsea Crematorium and there were so many people there.

“It just shows how popular and well-loved he was and wellknown too. He had a good sense of humour and was very outgoing.

“He loved the Barstable Social Club and was well loved and held lots of fundraising events there too.

“He also used to work as a taxi driver with A&B Taxis so met lots of people like that too.”

Kaidie told the Echo how Mr Holloway loved Only Fools And Horses and would recall the top episodes and lines from the show.

He was also known for raising money for cancer and children’s charities with raffles, meat sales and others social gatherings.

And the funeral collected £750 in the grandfather’s memory for Basildon Hospital Renal Unit after he was cared for there. The family now plans to maintain the tradition of holding fundraising raffles and sales going with the social club.

Kaidie added: “It got a great reaction in the community, one woman cried and others stopped to watch.

“It’s been shared on social media with millions of views too.

We’ve got to thank T Cribbs and Sons the funeral directors and Darren Abey from Only Fools and Hearses for the coffin and hearse.

“I think he would have found it very funny. He did say not to make a fuss but I think he would have liked it.

“He didn’t want a morbid or normal funeral and he would have been pleased with the fundraising.