By Rory Reynolds
A PUB owner will make a final journey in his beloved Bentley tomorrow after his son converted the classic car into a hearse.
Eddie Ewart’s coffin will be carried to his final resting place in the open top car, which will be followed by a convoy of Bentleys driven by enthusiasts from across the globe.
His son Fraser thought it would be a proper send-off for his dad, who was a Bentley fanatic all of his life.
The 46-year-old, who is also an avid fan of the British brand, owning eight himself, said: “I tried to find a Bentley hearse, but I could only locate one down south.
“So I rolled my sleeves up and transformed the last one he owned.“I found a hearse in a junkyard, removed the soft top of the Bentley and attached the hearse back to the gap.
Honourable
“It will be an open hearse and an honourable way for him to travel – it’s exactly the way he would want to go.
“He went to all the Bentley meets and he was a fan for life.”
Eddie passed away last week at the age of 75 nd previously owned Sneaky Pete’s bar in Edinburgh’s Cowgate.
Fraser said that his dad first fell in love with the brand when he saw a classic 1920s model in a stylish George Street showroom 50 years ago.
Fraser said: “He saw it and fell in love. Bentleys are not like appreciating a normal car; they have a soul and a special feeling.
“We call it a disease that is incurable. My brothers and I grew up in the back seats of a Bentley and we’re enthusiasts for life too.”
Eddie first spent much of his time restoring classic cars and selling them on.
Laid to rest
He bought his first in the 1960s for £300, and sold it on for £2,500 after kitting it out.
In 1974 he purchased another model for £2,500 – the price of a bungalow at the time – and continued throughout his life, becoming a keen member of the Bentley Owners Club.
Eddie will be laid to rest tomorrow at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh, with around 400 guests, including Bentley fans from Austria and Monaco, expected to attend.
Fraser added: “My father was a cheery man, a cheeky character.
“I know it’s a send-off he would have approved of – even if we have altered his Bentley.”
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