The life of a dog-loving sailor from Twickenham was celebrated in style with a custom coffin in the shape of a ship that arrived at his funeral in a converted VW Californian Camper rather than a hearse.
Richard Roberts, also known as Dickie Dog, was born in Isleworth in December 1945, lived most of his life in Mereway Road, Twickenham, and Hastings and travelled widely as a merchant seaman.
His daughter, Katy Roberts, organised his funeral last Thursday, May 26, at St Mary’s in Church Street and asked that mourners bring their dogs if they wished.
She said: “I wanted the day to reflect the positive, eccentric and dog-loving facets of my father’s character.
“It was important for me to help organise a day which made people smile just as my dad always did.”
Mr Roberts arrived in the custom coffin designed to represent his long service in the Merchant Navy, which was driven in the 1965 camper van.
Reverend Jeff Hopkin William, who conducted the service, ushered the dogs to form a guard of honour from the church gate and said: “I have never had a problem inviting dogs into my church. It is their humans who I am more wary of.”
The day finished with a wake at Richmond yacht club. The handcrafted ship coffin now sits on a wall in Eel Pie Island, visible from Mr Roberts’ favourite bench at the bottom of Water Lane.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here