There was a Seaview Services send off for Edward Higgin at his funeral, thanks to the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum.
Edward (Ted) was the son of John Higgin, who owned and operated Seaview Services, the well-known popular bus and coach company.
Many in the local community will remember fondly the eye-catching and distinctive red and green livery which operated out Seafield Garage in Seaview, providing a bus service connecting Seaview with Ryde via Seaview Duver. The tour coaches would be often seen in Ryde Quay Road taking the many holiday makers around the Isle of Wight.
During his younger days, Ted would help his father cleaning and tending the fleet at the end of the day and when old enough would be found driving at weekends and evenings. He went on to have his own career working in the operating theatre at Ryde Hospital but was still a very big part of Seaview Services, driving the buses and coaches during the evenings and at weekends.
Sadly, Edward died recently at the age of 85. In memory of his days driving the buses and coaches, the Isle of Wight Bus Museum kindly arranged for one of the Seaview Services buses – once driven by Ted and now preserved at the museum – to accompany Ted on his final journey.
It led the hearse and limousine from H V Taylors Funeral Directors in Ryde to the crematorium, where it parked in the sunshine so that funeral guests could see it and take a trip down memory lane.
Ted’s daughter Lynn said:
“Our family would like to extend their grateful thanks to the amazing volunteers at the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum that gave their time to make this happen, especially to driver Mike and the two banksmen Graeme and Leo.”
Shirley Winn, speaking on behalf of the museum, said:
“We were happy to help. Volunteers gave the vehicle a special clean and made sure she was fit to fulfil this very important request. Our grateful thanks go to Ted’s family for their kind donation and thank you cards we received.”
A great way to go.
R.I.P Ted