Saturday.

A stalwart of the West End community, Mr. Swan, who died on Saturday at the age of 78, was president of the Sandys Rotary Club, a trustee of the Maritime Museum and served on the board of Wedco.

And it was at Dockyard he got his start. After graduating from the Dockyard Technical School Mr. Swan established his own plumbing business simply by walking the streets. The company was eventually to expand into one of the biggest of its kind on the Island.

His son Charlie Swan said: "He never advertised, he simply left his office in Old Cellar Lane and just walked around Hamilton.

"It started with just him and my mother. But after a while he was employing 15 and 16 people at Happy Valley Road.'' And while adults loved the service, kids loved the "bat mobiles'' which employees drove.

Service to be held for former plumber Charlie explains: "It was Charles Batson Swan Mobile Plumbing and Heating. He highlight the `bat' bit and the `mobile' bit.

"Drivers had radios and kids thought it was cool. They all wanted a ride.'' Away from work Mr. Swan took a keen interest in his family.

"We went away for school. It was unheard of in our family. He left you to your own devices but was encouraging and even handed.'' Mr. Swan was also a keen boater and helped build a power boat for Charlie who cleaned up in the kids section of races held at Ferry Reach.

However other outings weren't so successful.

Charlie remembers: "I remember we went sailing once and I capsized the boat.'' The following week pals urged the pair to go again, giving Charlies' father a chance to air his catch phrase: "It's all right for you to fellows to talk but you don't know.'' "He was a very, very patient man who would show equal respect to everyone, from an abject fool to the Queen.

And he is clearly missed already.

Charlie said: "We have had loads of calls, even from people we didn't know saying he was really kind to them or fair.

Mr. Swan leaves widow Marjorie, sons Charlie and Mike, daughter Anita Smith and two grandchildren.

A service will be held at St. James' Church, Somerset on Saturday.