A DOUBLE funeral has taken place for a father and son from Selby, who passed away within days of each other.

Tributes were paid to John Ronald Swatman, who died aged 63 on August 17, and his father Ronald, who died aged 85 on August 20. Both men died of a heart condition.

Ronald ‘Roni’ Albert Swatman was born in Hull on May 14, 1930. He spent some of his childhood years on a farm in Escrick when he was evacuated during the war.

Living in Hull near the docks, Roni developed an interest in the boating industry and when he turned 15 he went to work on fishing trawlers. This tough job often saw Roni spending up to two weeks at sea at a time.

It was working on the boats between Selby and Hull that Roni first met Mary, who lived on the banks of the Ouse. The two fell in love and got married, and in July 1952 their only son, John Ronald Swatman, was born.

After attending school in Leeds, John went on to become an apprentice at Cochrane’s Shipyard in Selby where he became a fully-qualified draughtsman, producing some incredibly impressive and detailed ship drawings.

From a young age John developed a passion for cars and motorbikes which eventually led him to a career in the motor trade, where he worked for numerous companies before branching out and starting his own car dealership.

Mick Trueman, who also works in the motor trade in Selby, said: “I had known John for many years. He was always a jolly fellow, a real motor trade man. It’s nice to be able to talk cars with people who understand them and John really understood cars. He and his family had a nice happy outlook on life.”

John met Sue in 1980, and four years later they married in Nether Poppleton, before settling in Kelfield. In 1990 they had a daughter – Alex. John was an incredibly proud and doting father.

Mary Swatman, wife to Roni and mother to John, now lives in Kelfield near the rest of the family and could not attend the funeral due to ill health. Roni’s eulogy said: “Mary and Roni enjoyed a long and happy marriage and Roni was a devoted husband, also caring for Mary at their home on Armoury Road in Selby until his passing.

“On this sad day she would be saying goodbye to both her son and husband.

“Roni was incredibly proud of his son John with whom he had a very close relationship, and the family have taken some comfort on this very sad day in the fact that they will now be resting side by side.”

A double funeral took place for the father and son yesterday at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Selby followed by a burial at Selby Cemetery. The service yesterday was well-attended and money raised will go to heart charities, the British Heart Foundation and Pumping Marvellous.

The Press photographer attended the funeral with the family's permission.