Gordon takes his final trip - by crane

He died of lung cancer aged 73 without ever having an opportunity to get behind the wheel of the enormous Grove GMK 5-100 which is the latest addition to the family firm's 10-crane fleet.

The five-axle Grove cost nearly half a million pounds and has a 120 tonne capacity and a 120 metre boom.

But it is so big that when it is used as the family's final mark of respect for Gordon his funeral cortege from the company depot at Thorne Crescent to Eastbourne crematorium on Thursday morning will have to do as Gordon had so often done in his working life, follow the highway authority's designated route for an "abnormal load."

Gordon's son Paul and daughter Margaret spoke this week of the father who had been dedicated from boyhood to the family business.

Paul said: "My grandfather started in 1937 with a garage business next door (in NInfield Road) and here.

"We are the biggest crane hire company in East Sussex now - I think we are the only one. Certainly the new crane is the biggest in East Sussex. We will be using it to put up the giant television screens for the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

"Grandfather was a motor mechanic for Russells Garage in London Road. He was also a blacksmith.

"He started his own garage here and after the war he began to buy up old ex-Army equipment. The first crane he had was ex-War Department.

"He went to ex-Army sales and bought a crane - and that's how the business started.

"We did vehicle recovery for years but we stopped that about 12 months ago.

"Dad was born in Briar Cottage in Ninfield Road. He went to Ninfield School - at least he was supposed to. It was war-time and he only went to school when he had to. The rest of the time he was working in the garage!

"I think it was only at the end of the war that they noticed he hadn't been to school."

Today, Coussens' cranes are in demand on building sites and the like across the south east. Whenever there has been a need for heavy lifting equipment locally the company has come to the rescue.

The family scrapbook is packed with Observer pictures.

When thousands flocked to Bexhill when a dead whale washed ashore in the 80s it was Gordon Coussens who hoisted the enormous mass off the beach.

When St Leonards Motors needed to move their trademark Gloster Meteor aircraft from their old site to their new it was Gordon who did the lifting.

Paul said: "He was diagnosed with lung cancer last October. He had seen the new crane because he was still working until the last. But he hadn't driven in it.

"He died indoors last Tuesday. Myself and my mother were with him.

"He and I had been partners for the last 18 years. We are an extended family. My sister Margaret will continue supporting the company by doing the bookwork and our cousin Stephen Funnell will come back in as a partner.

"Dad had worked for the company all his life- it was his life. He lived for the company. He was totally committed to it. He never retired. He was still working until two weeks before he died."

In addition to Margaret and Paul, Gordon leaves a widow, Joan.