Dozens of Western Power vans join funeral cortege in memory of electrical engineer

An electrical engineer was given a fitting send-off by colleagues who followed his funeral cortege in a convoy of Western Power vans.

Tom Marcham was so dedicated to his job he often posted pictures of the views he saw while repairing electricity pylons.

The dad-of-two, from Worcester, died suddenly on November 23 aged just 36 leaving behind seven-year-old Harry and four-year-old daughter Esme.

On Monday (20/12) a fleet of vans from Western Power Distribution – where he had worked since starting as an apprentice aged 16 – followed his hearse.

Dozens of well-wishers also lined the route before he was laid to rest at Worcester Crematorium.

His sister Laura Cale, 28, said: “The turnout for Tom’s funeral was simply amazing.

“He was, in Harry’s words, the best daddy ever and he would do anything for those children, they came before everything.”

Tom’s devastated family are still waiting for a coroner’s report to confirm his cause of death.

Laura, from Malvern, Worcs., added: “Tom was suffering from PTSD and depression yet he went above and beyond for everyone else and painted on the most beautiful infectious smile.

“I wish he knew just how much we all love, care and cherish him and how much he is already so sorely missed.

"Tom was such a hard working man and a linesman for Western Power since he started an apprenticeship with them 20 years ago.

"They have all been affected by the sudden loss of Tom and they couldn’t have done more for him and us as a family.

"They turned up en masse and joined us in the convoy taking Tom on his last journey, the leading truck involved was Tom's truck itself."

The family were also dealt a second blow when their beloved grandmother died on Saturday (18/12) just two days before Tom’s funeral.

They have now set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to pay for the funeral and for presents for his two children.

Laura added: "As you can imagine the unexpected funeral costs has hit the family massively so close to Christmas along with the sudden loss of our beautiful Nana on Saturday.

"Any money we raise will go to buying the children Christmas presents that myself and their grandmother will be buying for them and will be explained to them that they are from their Daddy in heaven.

“Any money raised after Christmas will go towards birth presents next year.”