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| Muscle car owners to join Somerset fan's funeral procession | |
| (10 days later) | |
| A mother who appealed online for "anyone with an American Muscle car" to drive in her son's funeral procession has been "overwhelmed" by the response. | A mother who appealed online for "anyone with an American Muscle car" to drive in her son's funeral procession has been "overwhelmed" by the response. |
| Leonard Birtles, 20, from Shepton Mallet, died suddenly on 24 September after a number of epileptic seizures. | |
| After a Facebook appeal, the family received hundreds of messages and were offered at least 25 cars. | After a Facebook appeal, the family received hundreds of messages and were offered at least 25 cars. |
| Diana Barrington-Scott, said her car-obsessed son was "going out loud in a way that puts a smile on your face". | Diana Barrington-Scott, said her car-obsessed son was "going out loud in a way that puts a smile on your face". |
| At the end of September, Ms Barrington-Scott, from Taunton, Somerset, posted on Facebook asking if anyone with a high-performance American car "would be kind enough to drive with my son's funeral". | At the end of September, Ms Barrington-Scott, from Taunton, Somerset, posted on Facebook asking if anyone with a high-performance American car "would be kind enough to drive with my son's funeral". |
| She said he absolutely loved cars, especially the Ford Mustang. | She said he absolutely loved cars, especially the Ford Mustang. |
| Within days of the appeal the post was shared thousands of times worldwide and the family was "overwhelmed" with offers. | Within days of the appeal the post was shared thousands of times worldwide and the family was "overwhelmed" with offers. |
| Despite only wanting one muscle car in the cortege, Ms Love said it has "ballooned" to 25. | Despite only wanting one muscle car in the cortege, Ms Love said it has "ballooned" to 25. |
| "He was obsessed with cars. He always wanted to be a mechanic," she said. | "He was obsessed with cars. He always wanted to be a mechanic," she said. |
| "He would be in awe of the funeral, he wouldn't believe it would be happening." | "He would be in awe of the funeral, he wouldn't believe it would be happening." |
| Ms Barrington-Scott, said when her son developed epilepsy at the age of 13 it "put a stop to his dream of owning a driving licence". | Ms Barrington-Scott, said when her son developed epilepsy at the age of 13 it "put a stop to his dream of owning a driving licence". |
| "Nothing prepares you to receive such a response. It's totally overwhelming," she said. | "Nothing prepares you to receive such a response. It's totally overwhelming," she said. |
| "But there was nothing about Leonard that was small or quiet. Everything about him was loud, but definitely the cars - you can't get any louder than them. | "But there was nothing about Leonard that was small or quiet. Everything about him was loud, but definitely the cars - you can't get any louder than them. |
| "We're strangely feeling quite excited because we know he'd be pretty excited." | "We're strangely feeling quite excited because we know he'd be pretty excited." |
| The funeral is due to take place at Taunton crematorium. | The funeral is due to take place at Taunton crematorium. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Muscle car is a general term for small but extremely powerful cars. | Muscle car is a general term for small but extremely powerful cars. |
| They were mostly built in America in the 1960s and 1970s, and were designed for racing at the same time as being road legal. | They were mostly built in America in the 1960s and 1970s, and were designed for racing at the same time as being road legal. |
| Muscle cars declined in the 1970s when concerns over pollution and comfort led manufacturers to design more fuel efficient cars. | Muscle cars declined in the 1970s when concerns over pollution and comfort led manufacturers to design more fuel efficient cars. |
| Source: Musclecarclub.com | Source: Musclecarclub.com |