"SHE was not just Mum to us, but to the taxi drivers in the town who she loved like they were her own children."

Those were the emotionally-charged words of the son of Maggie Lee, a long-serving cab office receptionist who was described by her former colleagues as "the golden voice of Grimsby who will never be replaced".

Those in search of a taxi yesterday afternoon were left waiting as a procession of more than 30 cabs made a poignant final tribute to a much-loved great-grandmother who dedicated the past 43 years of her life to her three favourite things – family, work and her dog Pippa.

Heads turned in the town as mourners said their final goodbyes during a slow drive from Cable Cars in Pasture Street to Grimsby Crematorium, which was organised as a mark of respect between the late 71-year-old's six children and her close work friends.

Son Fred, 48, said: "She was known by most people in the town and she loved her job and the people she worked with, but when she came home she liked to slip into her own world.

"She never drank a drop of alcohol because, working as a taxi receptionist, she saw how drinking made people aggressive and didn't like it.

"She was not the most social person outside of work, she didn't even have a passport because she never went on holiday. She just loved her quiet time with her dogs."

Despite keeping herself to herself while enjoying life's simple pleasures, "Mags" was kept in the highest regard by her co-workers who would always be prepared to drop whatever they were doing to help her out.

Daughter Vicky, 50, added: "Every taxi driver she worked with would be prepared to drop whatever they were doing for Mum, that was the sort of lady she was.

"She was never happier than when walking her dog or doing her jigsaw puzzles – we must have cleared out thousands from her house."

The hard-working receptionist, who was also mum to John, Mandy, Robert and Carl, grandmother to 15 and great-grandmother to more than 30, was born and bred in Grimsby and lived in Heneage Road for most of her life.

Even after divorcing husband Charles, a long-distance lorry driver, the pair remained good friends up until his death eight years ago.

Pam Pollard, who worked with Maggie at Cable Cars for more than ten years, said: "She was a wonderful lady who will never ever be replaced. Everyone in Grimsby knew her and loved her."

Today's family announcements start on page 25.

Pay tribute to a loved one at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/lastingtribute