HE was the "true gent" fondly loved in the farming, trucking and taxi driving worlds.

So it was only fitting that Victor Marsh was escorted to his final resting place by a convoy of vehicles.

And even more-so that his funeral closed with the Wurzels hit 'I've got a brand new combine harvester'.

Romsey came to a standstill when a procession of more than 10 taxis and a horse box lorry eased through town following the hearse of the late Samtax taxi boss to Romsey Abbey.

Over 300 family, friends and colleagues packed into the church for a service celebrating the life of the popular businessman, cricketer and footballer.

Mr Marsh, known as Vic, died after a three-year battle with prostate cancer - aged 68.

The grandfather from Ower and his wife Anne, 66, have run Samtax since the 1980s after taking over the company founded by her father Sam Steel in 1976.

Mr Marsh bravely carried on working despite his illness - driving up until around six weeks before his death at Romsey Hospital.

Mr Marsh previously owned VJ Marsh haulage livestock where he transported animals to cattle markets and slaughterhouses across the region.

A horsebox bearing his name and picture followed the convoy to the church where members of his beloved Michelmersh and Timsbury Cricket Club formed a guard of honour wearing their traditional whites.

His coffin was carried in to one of his favourite songs 'Little Red Rooster' by the Rolling Stones for a service conducted by Reverend Canon Tim Sledge.

Mr Marsh's daughter Pam Pickard gave a reading "Poem of Life" before his lifelong friend Nigel read a eulogy.

He hailed the father-of-three as a "family man" and added: "Almost everything he did was for them.

"He and Anne were soul mates and they shared life's ups and downs.

"He was a welcoming man, there was always a smile on his face."

"He was a true gent - a real good-un."

Mr Marsh dedicated 30 years to the cricket club where he was a player, captain, groundsman and honoured as a life member before calling time in 2009.

He also played in the club's football team and one of the avid Southampton fans' finest moment was watching Saints 1976 FA Cup triumph over Manchester United at Wembley.

Laughter rippled through he congregation when they heard of a mishap when he left the handbrake off his beloved Mercedes car and it rolled into a truck at Wilton Sheep Fair and how his heroes the Hairy Bikers influenced his later life hobby of baking.

Reverend Canon Sledge told the congregation: "He was a big character with a big heart."

Mr Marsh also leaves two sons Richard, 42, and Graham, 39, and four grandchildren.