Rounds finished early so friends and colleagues can pay respects Binmen line streets for ‘great bloke’ Lee
COUNCIL workers lined the streets to pay tribute to a much-loved refuse lorry driver.
Binmen finished their rounds early on Friday so they could park their lorries on the roads along the route of the funeral cortege for Lee Percival.
Residents had been requested by Blaby District Council to put their bins out by 6.30am to allow the rounds to be completed early.
Andy Tipton, who crewed with Lee for six years as they covered Blaby, Countesthorpe, Kirby Muxloe, Brunstone, Cosby, Glenfield,
Sapcote and Enderby, paid tribute to the 53-year-old father-of-three, from Ratby, who died this month from cancer.
“The love and respect shown to Lee was great today,” he said. “The residents helped by putting the bins out early and some even donated to a charity nominated by Lee’s family.
“The lads lined the streets. It just goes to show just how highlyregarded Lee was.”
Andy, from Blaby, attended the family funeral service at Countesthorpe Crematoruim.
“It was lovely,” he said. “It was very moving service and there was a not a dry eye in the house.
“Lee was just a great bloke, one in a million. In and out of work he would do anything for anyone.
“He was a laugh a minute and had a heart of gold. We are all devastated at losing him. Everyone loved him.”
Blaby council’s email appeal to residents said: “A few days ago we were devastated by the passing of Lee Percival, one of our neighourhood services team.
“Lee was a driver of one of our lorries and part of a popular crew with residents.
“Whether it was having tea with an elderly resident, or letting an excited youngster sit in the lorry, nothing was too much trouble.
“To help our entire neighbour
He was a laugh a minute and had a heart of gold. We are all devastated at losing him. Everyone loved him Andy Tipton, right, pictured with Lee Percival, whose funeral was held yesterday
hood services crew pay their respects to Lee by lining the funeral procession route, please could all those with a Friday bin collection have their bins presented by 6.30am so the teams can start a little bit earlier.
“Thank you so much for your support.”