A TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND SCOOBY
A haunting, melodic single guitar beautifully played Theme from Young Lovers as I and hundreds of mourners shuffled into St Mary’s Church Mildenhall.
I was there to celebrate the life and pay my last respects to the passing of my friend and many other peoples friend, Michael Scarrow, more commonly known as Scooby.
We stood there thinking many things, why was he taken with so much to live for, why does life have so many cruel and unjust twists, but most of us were remembering our personal memories of our ordinary friend who we had just lost. Then a brightly painted coffin glided into the church and a spirit descended on each and every one of us and for the remainder of the service we were as one, this was to be no ordinary funeral, this was to be Scooby’s funeral.
My memories and experiences with Scooby are personal and not for consumption here as I suspect many peoples are, he was as I stated earlier just an ordinary guy going about his life much like millions of other people, he was kind and generous when he wanted to be and he would also speak his mind when provoked, he liked a pint or two and he had a laid back attitude to most things with the exception of his family commitments and his job as a trucker. I came to know him through working at Felixstowe for a company called Portbridge, I must admit that in all my long years in transport they were some of the best. Scooby and the rest of whom I know as the Portbridge boys made a hard job just that bit easier, I will always remember those years with fondness. Scooby had many other interests and passions but I can only speak about a very few of them, aside from his professional life he had a real interest in the Children’s Convoy that I had founded back in 1986. Scooby had run 7 convoys and he had also helped with fund raising at the Police Gala Day at Norwich, only last year he could be seen with his family supporting our efforts and clapping us as we passed by with our precious little passengers. I was overwhelmed with much pride and emotion when Scooby’s family wanted all donations made to the Children’s Charity, that was formed to help pay for our convoy.
The quite unusual funeral service was drawing to a close and once again we could lose ourselves with our memories of our friend Scooby, we filed out of the church behind the coffin in a somewhat sombre mood only to be astounded at the hundreds of people that had come to pay their last respects to our friend. The coffin was loaded onto Scooby’s immaculately polished truck and the unusual cortege left on Scooby’s final journey. The forty truck convoy made its way to the Parish cemetery, the vicar had kindly waited for all of the trucks to park before he instructed the pall barers to carry Scooby to his final resting place. As the coffin was lowered into the ground the dignity and courage of his family was an inspiration to all of us.
Refreshments, I use the word loosely, were at The White Horse, West Row. Old acquaintances were made and much liquid was consumed, I imagine many old truckers’ tales about Scooby were exchanged.
I described Scooby at the start of this tribute as an ordinary guy, after his far from ordinary funeral, I will have to change that description, infact he was as colourful as the coffin they carried him away in.
If I had to write the inscription on his head stone it would read
HERE LIES MY FRIEND SCOOBY, NEVER A DULL MOMENT.
God bless and keep you Scooby until we meet again.
Glenn Johnson
Founder and Director of the ECTC Children’s Convoy
rip scooby. sounds like a great guy and what a way to be taken to your grave.
when i go i want taken in a truck. i just hope its as nice as the scanny.
I agree with that, what a nice way to go RIP
I AGREE R.I.P
RIP 
What a send off.
I’m sure he would approve.
RIP.
Ken.
I liked the coffin decals, thats really different, as a driver I’m sure he would have been smiling down on you all with the effort made for his send off.
RIP scooby
Scooby was a great bloke. I knew him for 7 years so not aslong as most but he is missed by many. I worked for R. turner Haulage (who he subbied for with his own motor) He’d help anyone in anyway he could so i always had plenty of time for him.
I saw him about a fortnight before truckfest and i said that i’d see him up there, unfortunately i didn’t get to. RIP scooby.
Rest in Peace Scooby mate.
Rest in peace.
rip
A moving tribute Ennis.
How many of us could hope to be be remembered in this way?
Must have been a great bloke. 
R.I.P scooby,i never knew you but you were obviously very much respected by the people who did know you.My condolances also go out to his family and friends.
I knew him when he was on Portbridge for Shippy with his 143. He was a really nice bloke, allways helpful, who lived and breathed lorries. Sadly missed, R.I.P mate.
Just as a footnote to my tribute to Scooby, his family asked for all donations to be made to the EAST COAST TRUCKERS CHARITY. The final total was handed over to me on our Convoy this year and the staggering sum of £1850.00 was donated. Many thanks to Eileen for her kindness and thank you all for the kind comments regards this post. Glenn.
R.I.P Scooby gone but not forgotten
R.I.P Scooby
A great tribute Little Enis. He sounds like one of the “Ordinary” truck drivers that make the job better and keeps you going when you are ready to give it up.
I’m sure he’s missed by many but he sure went out in style.
scooby was proper old school !! i was on portbridge with him an had some good laughs along the way !! i never see that guy unhappy !! well written glen !! thats a nice tribute too a ■■■■ good un !! R I P SCOOB !! 