Photo via @LouisaD__/Twitter, @headgrassman/Twitter
December 17, 2021, 1:50 pm
A video posted to Twitter on Friday morning quickly went viral as millions of viewers were touched by the sight of a funeral procession for an ice cream man that included a long line of other ice cream trucks as fellow frozen treat peddlers paid their respects to their fallen comrade. The footage was caught and posted by Louisa Davies, who spotted the procession outside her window near Camberwell in south London.
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“[J]ust witnessed an ice cream man’s funeral and all the ice cream vans came and followed in solidarity I AM SOBBING,” she wrote.
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Davies can indeed be heard making sobbing noises in the audio over the rather haunting sound of around a dozen ice cream trucks all playing their ice cream man music at once.
According to multiple commenters, this kind of thing has a long tradition among ice cream van drivers as well as others who make their living primarily by driving around some kind of vehicle any time one of their fellows passes away. Not only did a few others get alternate footage of the same procession, some posted their own videos of truck driver funeral processions.
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One commenter seemed to report that the fallen ice cream man’s name was Hasan Tex (ice cream king) and had earned a friend of 40 years as well as the respect of so many fellow ice cream peddlers. Davies noted in her reply that she has spoken with the family of the deceased and plans to make a donation to cancer research, suggesting that he passed away from some form of this disease.
I’m so sorry for your loss
I spoke to the family and will make sure a donation is made to cancer research. This video bought joy to a lot [email protected] today so I thank the community so much!
— Louisa Davies (@LouisaD__) December 17, 2021
“I’d never seen anything like this before so was quick shocked at first but then thought it was just the nicest most heartwarming send off,” said Davies of the procession according to ARK media. “I’d like to send my respects to the family and let them know this procession bought joy to a lot of people today.”
She’s certainly correct about that, as over four million people have now viewed the video and many thousands have retweeted and commented. Something about seeing this kind of whimsical solidarity that sweetens what is otherwise a sad and somber occasion in order to celebrate the life of a man who provided ice cream to children across London has worked to bring people together at then end of just a garbage, garbage year.
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Awww. This reminds me of when my father in law passed away. He was a school bus driver in retirement and at his memorial, all his colleagues showed up in a line of school buses.
— laughing at the Xmas lights
(@jacqwolk) December 17, 2021
I saw them all outside my house too.
Hearing the sound of the ice cream chimes was very moving.
It is such a lovely way to tribute someone special.
Rise in Peace Mr Ice Cream Man— 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗼’𝗠𝗘’® (@SHALOMEIBBOTSON) December 17, 2021
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*First Published: December 17, 2021, 1:50 pm
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