An AA mechanic who survived coronavirus but lost his battle with cancer was given a guard of honour as a fleet of vans and colleagues honoured him at his funeral.

Simon Burridge, from Rainham, worked for the recovery service for some 13 years and despite defeating Covid-19 he died on June 1.

AA form guard of honour at funeral of mechanic Simon Burridge who defeated Covid-19 but lost cancer battle

The loving father-of-four was remembered by close family during a service at Bobbing Crematorium yesterday.

Vans joined behind the hearse as it left his home in Silverspot Close and followed the funeral cortege where more – including classic vehicles from the company's history – also formed up outside.

Simon, 52, was a talented mechanic and had always had a passion and interest in cars.

Joanne Burridge, Simon's partner of 16 years and wife for 10 years, said it was difficult to talk about her husband who was a father to four "beautiful children".

She said: "He was quite a private person and proud and amazing at his job. He loved it.

"He was an amazing mechanic and seemed to have magic hands that fixed anything he laid his hands on.

"It's nice to hear that everyone thought so highly of him. Everyone has just been so nice."

She thanked all the AA colleagues for taking part in the cortege and attending the funeral, where they sat in their vans in the car park watching the service inside online.

"It's amazing and all very overwhelming," Joanne said.

She said her husband was considering taking up maintaining and driving classic cars in his retirement and always enjoyed going for a drive in the country lanes.

After battling Covid-19 and beating the virus while fighting multiple cancers, Simon left the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester in April and returned home greeted by applause from nurses and hospice staff.

At the time, Simon said: "From the time I was brought in to the Wisdom Hospice by patient transport from Medway Hospital, the people in the hospice have gone well beyond my expectation's of care, I cannot thank these people enough.”

But he then developed pneumonia before finally the cancer took over.

Joanne said: "He was a fighter, he really was. Covid came and he got over that and pneumonia but got over that. But the cancer stepped up and he was too weak."

Simon's mother-in-law Hannah Smith said: "Four followed from the house and when we got to the crematorium they were lined up as we went in.

"As we came out they lined up, it was amazing. We couldn't believe it."

One of the 10 vans at the service was Simon's own vehicle he used when on duty.

Hannah added: "The guy said he's left it as it is to treasure it. Simon's daughter was hugging it and went inside. It was so nice."

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