Hello darling - it was Fred's funeral today. At least it didn't rain and we all gave him a good send off. Martin, Graham, Jason and Richard carried him in to the chapel at Staines Cemetery and to the graveside. We had the same vicar who led your mum's funeral service and he was lovely and made it very personal. Graham read a poem that Maria and he wrote between them and I read the eulogy that I have copied below: THE CIRCLE OF LIFE Fred was my father-in-law – Grandad to my children and Great Grandad to my grandchildren and he has now completed his Circle of Life We are all born, lead our own lives, grow old and then leave this earth as we know it and hopefully go somewhere else. Most of you here today remember Fred as an old man – he was born in 1917 and would have been 93 just 4 days after he died. But he was young once and old age comes to us all. I met Fred in 1956 when he was just 39 years old – that’s 54 years ago and I was a teenager. I was introduced to him when John and I became dancing partners and eventually we got married. I remember his mum and his 3 brothers and 2 sisters. He is survived by just one younger sister, Ethel who lives in Australia. Fred had a wonderful sense of humour and was very witty and loved singing. I’m sure you’ve all been entertained by him at some time or another. Fred was a butcher until he served in the 2nd world war from November 1939 until January 1946 and a testimonial on his army discharge papers reads - ”This man has always been a keen, conscientious and willing worker. I would recommend him for any position where humour and initiative are required”. He entertained everyone with his stories of the war – in the trenches and ditches etc. On leaving the army he resumed working as a butcher – in fact he worked until he was 72. He met Ivy; John’s mum, when she worked as a cashier alongside him in the local butcher shop. John was about 7 or 8 when he moved in with Ivy and they got married when John was 15. When we got married in 1962 he was delighted that John took his name and became John Roberts-Hunt – he always talked about John as “my son” and John always referred to Fred as “me father”. I remember many a Friday evening at “The Star” pub in Shepherds Bush where he was a regular and we all belonged to their Christmas Club. I learnt all the lovely cockney and war songs that Fred loved to sing - the song played when we came in was, “Memories Live Longer Than Dreams” - oh how so true! The tune was one of my favourites that I liked to hear him sing – to his last days he remembered the words from beginning to end. Unlike the one liner “Shennandore, I Love Your Daughters” that I’m sure everyone heard him sing! Then starting in 1965 our children were born and Fred and Ivy became grandparents. They spoilt them all and we all have many happy memories of days spent together and some happy holidays as well. When the older great grandchildren came along he was retired and he and Ivy used to take them backwards and forwards to nursery school. He loved his family so much and he was the centre of our family life. Fred had a very quick wit and loved flirting with all the ladies and even with his dementia in his last few weeks he would find something witty to say to the doctors and flirt with the nurses. In fact on a visit to A & E just 6 weeks before he died one of the doctors asked us if he had been a comedian!! When one of the nurses said she wanted some blood he said “it’ll cost you darling” and serenaded her with “If you were the only girl in the world”. When the dementia got so bad that he couldn’t live on his own my son Graham and his lovely wife Maria, and their family moved Grandad Fred in to the annexe attached to their house. I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to them for looking after Grandad for the last 2 years in a loving family home. Also a big thank you to Louise, Helen and Martin who took it in turns to be with Grandad Fred 24 hours a day so he wasn’t alone in his last few days. He was a lucky man to be so loved and cared for by all his family and although he was unable to express his gratitude properly due to his dementia, I know he really appreciated it. Fred – you truly have completed the CIRCLE OF LIFE – may you rest in peace and be reunited with your wife Ivy. We all went back to Graham and Maria's house and had soup and hot sausages in a roll and some fancy cakes. Ellie and Lucy read a poem that they had written which was very touching. There were 45 of us in total which was a good turn out for someone as old as Fred. I know you were looking down on us all and feeling proud of your family! Hope you don't party too much in heaven John - until we meet again, my darling. Love you so much - always in my heart and head 24/7. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx