Ron’s funeral took place on 15th June at Southend Crematorium from 11.40 am with a wake/ reception at the Camelia Hotel on Southend Seafront.  All passed off successfully and it was well attended.

For anyone wanting to make a charitable donation in Ron’s memory please follow this link to the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity which Ron had avidly supported for many years.  Please use the Gift Aid option assuming you are a UK taxpayer as this ensures the charity receives a bit more than the sum you actually donate.

Order of service

  • Opening Music was the Rondo section of Mozart’s 2nd Horn Concerto in E flat
  • Introduction & opening prayer
  • Gospel Reading John 14:1-6
  • Hymn – “The Lord’s my shepherd”
  • The Homily.  Brett Adams
  • Bidding Prayers – read by Keith Harknett
  • The Lords Prayer
  • Poem – ‘The Dash’ by Linda Ellis. Read by Neill Morfitt
  • Final Commendation & Committal
  • Recessional music  “Spread a little Happiness”  The later Sting version was played as better audio quality

Officiated by Fr Brett Adams

Funeral Directors S. Stibbards and Sons.

Scripture reading:   John 14:1-6 (New International Version)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Poem.  The Dash. by Linda Ellis (used with consent of the author). This was read by Neill Morfitt

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on their tombstone from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we lived our dash.
So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash…would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?

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Photo presentation as shown at the funeral reception (opens in a separate window).

Music played at the reception: Spotify playlist

Ron aged 80

1 April 1924 – 30 May 2018

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Sonnet 71: William Shakespeare (Just included here though not part of the funeral service)

No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.