A tea-loving ex-builder was laid to rest beside a box of his favourite brew made out of flowers at his funeral.
Leslie Keith Dee, 73, was known to drink up to 20 mugs of tea a day – strong, with a dash of milk and two sugars – and was rarely seen without some of the hot stuff in hand.
So when the retired bricklayer passed away aged 73 on January 3, his family honoured him by placing a floral tribute to the brand by his graveside.
Chad Dee, 28, one of Leslie’s 30 grandchildren, said the display commemorated the character of the fondly missed family man as well as his love of Yorkshire Tea.
Leslie, from Gloucester, developed his love of tea while working on building sites.
Chad said: “On a cold building site, most of them would drink tea to warm them up by the flask.”
Even when Leslie was forced to spend more time at home due to a hip replacement in 2019, his family would always ensure tea was flowing.
“Grandad had nine kids and he had 30 grandkids,” said Chad. “So someone would walk in and flick the kettle on.
“He’d sometimes cough and so ‘Oh my throats dry’, as then we’d have to make him a cup!
“He was caring and kind. He’d do anything for his children and grandchildren.”
Made by Plantation Florist the tribute was made out of real flowers – in the signature green and red Yorkshire Tea colours – that were woven into a tea box-shaped frame.
Chad, who laid the floral tribute at the graveside during the funeral –attended by 150 people on January 28 –said he believed it was one of the first of its kind.
He said: “When we came up with the idea, I Googled ‘Yorkshire tea tribute’ and there was nothing.”
Yorkshire Tea, which has been produced by the Bettys & Taylors Group since 1977, turned to Hollywood and Game of Thrones star Sean Bean to advertise its tea bags.
The popular hot drink giant has the slogan “Where everything’s done proper”.
