A STREAM of taxis with pink ribbons tied to their aerials followed a horse and carriage carrying the coffin of a popular cab driver from Basingstoke.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Basingstoke Crematorium to say goodbye to Ryan Snelson, known throughout the town for his bright pink taxi.

The 43-year-old, from Hatch Warren, Basingstoke, died on October 24. Ryan was diagnosed with bladder cancer in April, but it was only in the last few days of his life that his health really deteriorated. He died at home, with his partner Jaki Wilson by his side.

Mourners at Ryan’s funeral, last Thursday, wore something pink in recognition of his well-known cab, and paid their respects at a service filled with laughter and humour, as well as tears.

The coffin was brought in to The Living Years by Mike & The Mechanics, before humanist funeral celebrant Jane Gant led the service.

She told the packed crematorium that Ryan grew up in London and helped his parents run a market stall in Covent Garden.

He was a keen boxer and loved fishing, and moved to Basingstoke to become a taxi driver, which was his job for around 20 years.

Standing side-by-side, 43-year-old Jaki and her 17-year-old son George paid a moving tribute to Ryan.

Fighting back tears, George thanked Ryan’s Macmillan nurse Caroline Price and the Hospice at Home nurses, who he said, “went above and beyond what is expected in their job.”

Speaking of the first time he met Ryan, George joked: “My first impressions were he was a loud, arrogant Cockney.”

He added: “Only Ryan could have the audacity to drive around in a pink car. I was embarrassed every time I sat down in it. But Ryan couldn’t care less what anyone thought, and loved it.”

Mother-of-three Jaki, recalling the first time she met Ryan, said: “Almost four years to the day, I jumped into the back of a taxi at the station after a few drinks in town and was greeted with ‘where are you going, love?’ in a Cockney accent. Little did I know that this wasn’t a short ride home, but the first part of a four-year journey.”

Ryan handed her a receipt with his number on, and the pair began dating.

Jaki said: “We laughed and laughed. I was smitten. I had fallen hook, line and sinker for this outrageous cocky Cockney.”

She added: “No matter what we went through, we always seemed to bounce back. We just couldn’t bear to be parted.”

When Ryan was diagnosed with cancer, Jaki said: “Behind his macho image was a very frightened young man.”

But she told The Gazette he kept his sense of humour right to the end, and added: “He was just a big, bubbly character. You could never be bored with him – you laughed all the time.”

She added: “Ryan was an adorable, hilarious, loveable character who will be deeply missed by his loved ones.”

Mourners left the service to Club Tropicana by Wham, before gathering for a wake.