A MAN who dedicated his life to the Newport Transporter Bridge and climbed it every day for many years made his final journey over the iconic structure yesterday.

John ‘Sean’ McDermott was the bridge’s superintendent for 30 years and for many people in the city was synonymous with it.

He died on July 30 aged 70 after falling at his Maindee home, and as a mark of respect, his funeral car took his body over the River Usk one final time on the bridge’s gondola.

Friends and former coworkers lined the banks of the river, with curr e n t b r i d g e supervis o r M a r t i n Newman describing Mr McDermott as “a chara c t e r who was always jolly and cracking jokes”. He added: “Sean was dedicated to the bridge, he lived for it and was the bridge in many ways.

“He wasn’t scared of heights and would just climb up the side. I remember when I started 22 years ago, he told me that the bridge talks to you if if something is wrong.

“I didn’t know what he meant at first, but he knewit so well, he could walk across and knew from the sounds and the creaks if there was a problem. He treated it like a living thing.”

The Irish republic flag was also at half mast on the bridge, as Mr McDermott moved to Newport from County Donegal as a 14- year-old to find work.

He married Lillian, who died a few years ago and helped bring up her children as well as theirs as his own.

Mr McDermott retired in 2007 and in recognition of his service, the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge planted a cherry tree and plaque next to the visitor centre. It was funded by the Argus’ parent company, The Gannett Foundation.

The bridge was closed for 20 minutes yesterday to allow the funeral car to pass over it en-route to a funeral at TJ Davies and Sons on Caerleon Road.

A minute’s silence was held during the gondola crossing.

A cremation then followed at Gwent Crematorium.