A PINEHURST-born builder was carried to his final resting place – in the back of a transit van.

Leslie Fisher passed away last month aged 89 after a battle with stomach cancer.

The great-grandfather of seven was carried into Kingsdown Crematorium on Thursday to sounds of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best.

“He was a larger than life builder around Swindon,” said son-in-law Liam Noone, 63.

“Even into his 80s he was on the roof of his bungalow to make repairs.”

Leslie “Les” Fisher was born on May Day, 1928, on Pinehurst’s Whitworth Road. Growing up, the family never had much money.

Liam recalled: “Les said his mum often had to hide when the weekly knock came from the ‘never-never’ man.”

As a young man, he played football for Pinehurst, but had his career cruelly cut short because of injury. Later, son John would go on to manage Highworth Town.

Les began his career on the railways, doing two years on the footplate in the cab of the GWR locomotives.

In the fifties, Les and friend Roy Martin opened Leroys – a Gorse Hill shop selling wallpaper and decorating equipment.

When Les and Roy parted ways, the Pinehurst boy – by then living in Stratton – opened another shop in St Philip’s Road, selling shoes and clothes.

He went into partnership with his son, Highworth Town manager John, when the lad turned 18. The pair opened a second shop in Moredon, as well as working as jobbing builders.

John Fisher, 60, paid tribute to his dad: “Fathers and sons tend to argue, but once we’d had our say we’d have made up within five minutes and got back to work. The trouble was he was always right.

“I’ve never seen my dad down. He never showed it. He told us he wanted to go out in style – ‘I’m going in the van,’ he’d say.”

Les was diagnosed with cancer six weeks before he died. Liam said: “He was generally a very fit man. We used to joke that most of his injuries were suffered through his tools.”

In his final weeks Les was supported by Prospect nurses, who visited him at home. A collection was made to the hospice at Les’ funeral.

“The fantastic Prospect nurses were giving Les a bed bath when he opened his eyes and gave John a wink,” said son-in-law Liam. “That was Les.”

The “larger than life” builder was piped out to the jaunty theme tune of Only Fools and Horses.

Daughter Carol Noone said: “There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. It wasn't from sadness, it was just from laughing.”