CABBIES from across York turned out in force to pay tribute to friend and colleague Eddie Thompson.

Tens of taxis joined the funeral procession for 59-year-old Eddie, a well-known York cabbie of more than 30 years, who died suddenly at his family home in Stamford Bridge on August 16.

Some chose to follow the family cars from Stamford Bridge, while others joined the line at Bishopthorpe on the way to the funeral service held at 2pm at York Crematorium.

Unusually, mourners at the funeral were instructed not to wear black as a mark of respect for Eddie, who hated dark colours.

For nine years, Eddie ran a cab with his business partner, Ray Buckle, a dark blue Mercedes out of York Station.

Ray described Eddie as "a one-off", who was well-liked and much respected by members of the profession and passengers alike.

"He was just one of those people in life it's very hard to find fault with," said Ray, "He was very much a family man, he worshipped his son and daughter and granddaughter.

"I will never replace him. He was the best driver in the world.

"In nine years, we never had a wrong word, which says a lot. He really was a one-off."

Brought up in Tang Hall, York, Eddie went to Derwent Junior School and Archbishop Holgate's senior school before starting work as a laboratory assistant at St John's College.

He went on to work for Unwin's Ford Garage in Piccadilly as a car salesman and then Foxton's Austin Morris garage next door.

It was while he was at Foxton's that he met his wife, Christine, and the couple married in 1969.

Eddie started work as a cabbie and for a while the couple ran a mini-cab business before Eddie went back to taxi driving.

He was a doting dad to their adopted daughter, Sarah, 26, and son James and his granddaughter, Samantha.

He had a number of hobbies including mountain biking, computers and he was interested in music.

York Taxi Drivers' Association secretary Alan Rowley said: "He was just a thoroughly nice bloke.

"He will be sadly missed. "He wasn't just known within the taxi trade, he was a popular figure throughout the whole of York."

Updated: 10:26 Thursday, August 25, 2005