Lymington character Eddie McCabe, known as Trolley Eddie, was given proper send-off after a funeral director's appeal

A POPULAR Lymington character known as Trolley Eddie was given a touching send-off at his funeral after an appeal for people to attend.

It was feared that Eddie McCabe, from Lymington, would have only a funeral director at his service held last Friday at Bournemouth crematorium.

But thanks to an invitation on social media and an A&T report, several people turned up, including two who used to work with him at Tesco in the town’s High Street where he collected the trolleys in the car park.

Tim Oddy, a celebrant from Albert Marsh funeral directors, first posted about Eddie on social media.

His son Oliver, who also works there, said: “It was wonderful that Eddie was given a proper send-off.

"My father was very pleased that people who actually knew him were there.

“If no one had come, one of the funeral directors would have sat in on it at the back – but it is always much nicer if people who knew the deceased attend.”

Eddie died in December and his funeral was paid for by New Forest District Council as he left no family or friends.

Tim learned from Lymington Baptist Church that Eddie had been a well known character in the town, so he posted an invitation to his funeral and was overwhelmed by the response.

Oliver said: “My father was delighted at the outcome it had.”