Canada to Patagonia at a Worrying Age

The funeral and life celebration of John Edward Parry took place on 8th November 2012.  Today would have been his 77th birthday.  The obituary the family put together was edited by the Chester Chronicle, so it’s here instead!  We also note it’s the anniversary of George Best’s passing, so here are a couple of pictures…

The service was at St Werburgh’s Church and was conducted by Father Paul Shaw.

John was born in Chester and was a Freeman of the City, where he lived all his life.  A much loved husband, father, grandfather and uncle, John was a pipe fitter who began his working life at C. Seward and Co.  Having spent his national service in Germany and Holland, John later contracted for all the local engineering firms as well as spending working time in Ireland, Scotland and Jersey.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen, his sister Janet, his brother Graham, his son Martin, his daughters Clare, Susan and Angela and his grandchildren, Isis, Rhys, Alexander, Joe, Patrick and Rory and will be sorely missed.

A gregarious man, never more happy than in the company of friends and family he was described on the day by his grandchildren as, Cool, Truthful, Best, Caring, Joyful, Kind, Lovely and a Good Laugh.  All of his family and friends concur with these sentiments.

Mourners included all of the above named family members as well as Paul Abraham, Mark Banks rep. Janet Banks, Brian & Danny Barlow, Tommy & Joey Barlow, Victoria Buchanan, Maureen Byrne rep. Kevin and David, John Chadwick, Patricia Currid, Mick& Sue Davey, Catherine, Matthew & Ben Davies, Chris & Eileen Davies Mr & Mrs      R Davies rep. Brian Roberts, Stan Delmore, Tracey Dunseath rep. Andy, Matthew & Lauren, Cathy Elsden, Wendy Evans, Mike & Ali Fagin-Hall with Tom, Dermot & Jonjo, Rebecca Griffith, Mary & Tommy Hall, Philip Hall rep. Clare, Will & Emily, Clare Harding, Karl Henson, Barrie & Pam Hipkiss rep. Glyn, Jackie & Lee Fradley, Helen & Yasmin Holding, Eric & Susan Hope, John Hunt, Barry Johnston, Mary & Peter Jones, Shaun & Joanna Jones rep. Leela, John Kenyon, Jean & John Kiersey, Karen  Kinder rep. Emma, Melissa & Michael, Tabatha & Leo Manifold, Kim & Anthony Mealor, Sheila Mealor & Ivy, Maureen Middleton, Ann Moody,  Dermot & Colleen Murphy, Pauline Murphy, Debbie Owens rep. Tom & Jess, Audrey Parry, Joanne & Rosemary Roberts, Cath Rogan, Helen, Christopher & Liam Staines rep. Tracey &  John, Linda & Graham Swindley, Val & Terry Tomlinson, Bernadette Vickers rep. The Middleton Family, Paul Woosey, Alyson Potts & Lily Donoghue, Andrea Wilderspin, Janet Wooley, David Randles.

The family would like to acknowledge the many mourners not listed here as well as those who sent fond wishes and thoughts.

Bearers were Graham Parry, Martin Parry, Michael Hall, Philip Hall, Christopher Staines, Liam Staines.

Donations in John’s memory to Cheshire Asbestosis Victims Support Group: http://www.cavsg.co.uk/

Ho hum, nearly time to return.  Here I am in Sao Paulo, which is making a bid to be my new favourite big city.  Visited the Niemeyer-designed park, a superb oasis in the middle of the (pleasant) busyness.  Parts could do with a lick of paint, though.

Earlier, changed my BA seat from battery hen to veal crate.  Still hoping for an upgrade to pig-pen, but unlikely given the level of service to which this once-adequate company has sunk.  Oh for a bit of re-nationalisation…

Last night was a bit of a blast from the past.  Had a wander round the Jardins district of SP, getting a veggie burger for my tea (always a disappointment).  Had planned on a visit to a nearby Oirish pub, but it was full of drunk English boys called Jeremy, so skipped it for a bar I´d spotted on the way.  When I went in they were playing Ai No Corrida.  Unusual, so had a look around.  All the clues were there, with Wizard of Oz memorabilia and a portrait of Liza.  Next song was Into the Groove, so that was final confirmation.  Later they played Copacabana, as if any further detail were required.  Just to make it even more Oliver´s like, a drunk English girl got up on a stool when they started to play that Abba song about men and midnight.  She got down pretty fast when it was pointed out she was in danger of being scalped by the ceiling fan about 1mm from her head.

Anyway, all very friendly and pleasant and I slept well after a couple of well-earned gins.

And soon I´m coming home.  Booked into a posh hotel for my last couple of nights on the continent.  How many beds have I slept in on this journey?  Perhaps we could have a little competition along the lines of how many jellybeans in the jar, so beloved of summer fetes.  Winner could get a useless bit of tat that I´ll no doubt pick up in some mad panic of “Oh God, I haven´t bought any presents” phase, which normally affects me about a minute before I leave for home.  Luckily, this will occur at Easter this time, so all the tat shops will be shut.

And on the home front, we all know where the 22nd will be spent, and I´m fairly clear that next Mon and Tues will be in west London.  But I´m actually back in Chester on the Wednesday.  Anyone up for a pint or two on that or the following night?  I´m assuming Friday will take care of itself.  East Londoners, the fun starts Monday 24th and hopefully doesn´t stop for at least a week.  Please keep your diaries free.

So there we go.  Planning positively for the return.  Actually pretty excited at the thought of seeing you all, even though they´ll be strapping me to the seat of my veal crate as I sob forlorny at the loveliness that is Sao Paulo and everything else on this side of the Atlantic.  Still, PG Wodehouse is keeping my pecker up with his bally good pasting of the English aristocracy.  Trouble is, when that´s finished it´s only worthy books left for the flight.  Still, enough of ramblings, except to say that some of you could take a leaf or two out of Cath´s and Gillian´s books with their erudite comments.

To finish the latest on Niemeyer from Wiki –

“He is currently designing a statue showing a tiger with its mouth open and a man fighting it raising the Cuban flag against the US blockade of Cuba.”  And he´s 98.