A tea-loving ex-builder got a fitting tribute at his funeral when he was laid to rest beside a box of his favourite brew made out of flowers.
Leslie Keith Dee, 73, was known to drink up to 20 cups of tea a day and was rarely seen without a mug in his hand.
So when the retired bricklayer passed away at the age of 73 in January, his family honoured him by placing a floral tribute to the iconic 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.
He said: “Yorkshire Tea was his preferred brand more than anything else, and he used to buy 1200 bags at a time.”
“He used to love it so much that he would drink 20 cups of tea a day, easily.
He added: “We had traditional tributes as well, but then we wanted stuff that was personal to him.
“He was a wonderful man, so obviously we wanted to show everyone how lovely he was.”
Chad said that Leslie, from Gloucester, had first developed his love of tea while working on building sites in the local area.
He said: “My grandad grew up in Gloucester, and he was a bricklayer by trade, so that’s where his love for tea came from.
“On a cold building site, most of them would drink tea to warm them up by the flask.”
Chad said even when Leslie was forced to spend more time at home due to a hip replacement in 2019, his family would always ensure the tea was flowing.
He said: “Grandad had nine kids and he had 30 grandkids, so someone would walk in and flick the kettle on.
“He wouldn’t be one to go out for a cup of tea. He would always have it in the house.”
“He’d sometimes cough and so ‘Oh my throats dry’, just because he was a joker, as then we’d have to make him a cup of tea!”
Chad added: “He had a big family, and he was a big family man. He was caring and he was kind. He’d do anything for his children and grandchildren.”
When Leslie died on January 3 this year, Chad asked Plantation Florist, in Gloucester, to create a floral tribute in the shape of a Yorkshire Tea box to honour his memory.
He said: “We went to the florist and told her what we wanted, and asked her could you do this?
"They said, “Hmm, I don’t know”, but then they did it and pulled it off.”
The floral 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 his father’s 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.”
Fans of Yorkshire Tea were quick to praise Leslie's family for their incredibly touching display on social media.
Juliette Hill said: “What a lovely tribute! And every time his family and friends have a cup of tea, they will think of him.
“I hope that will make the pain of losing him more bearable.”
Mo Robertson said: “What a fabulous tribute to Leslie from his family.
“I'm just off to make a brew with my Yorkshire Tea and I will raise my mug to you RIP Leslie.”
While Heather Cunningham added: “What a man!!! He is my hero!! Amazing. May his cup be always full, wherever he may be.”
Yorkshire Tea has been contacted for comment.
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