Post by Eric Roper on Oct 28, 2011 15:43:51 GMT 1
EULOGY TO EDWARD (EDDIE) FRENCH EX 1 KINGS
WHO DIED ON 1ST AUGUST 2011.
Delivered at St Michaels and all the Angels, 9th August 2011 by Bill Rimmer
Anita, Claire, Nikki and Sharon, I am grateful to you for allowing me too deliver this all to brief eulogy To Eddie. I want you all to know that I deem it a great privilege. Having said that I must first apologise to Eddie as I intend to start with one of his pet hates, a cliché. Sorry Eddie but its true – ‘To know him was to love him’.
Marguerite and I first met Eddie when our beloved niece Anita towed him shyly by the hand into our Home in Liverpool and proudly announced him as ‘The Boyfriend’. It did not take long for me to realise that this bright eyed floppy haired young man, born on the South Docks end of Liverpool, which was then a grimy little huddle on the banks of the Mersey called Garston, was special even then, with a quiet innate intelligence and a palpable desire to know.
Another trait that was evident then and in my humble opinion went on to define the man who was Frenchie was his consistent and absolute honesty. In his thoughts words and deeds (not the aggressive listen to me type) but he said what he meant and he meant what he said.
Marguerite and I were delighted when wedding bells sounded not long after Eddie had joined 1st Battalion The King’s Regiment and then whisked Anita off to a fairy tale start in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. A magical time for them both, Made more so when near the end of the three year tour, Anita arrived home to deliver them what was to become the start of a consuming passion, his family. This was to be Baby Claire, followed by the flame haired Nikki and their only son Michael. Typically Anita and Eddie gathered themselves another daughter in the form of Sharon, when her parents tragically died. I am here to tell you Sharon, that he loved you like his own and spoke to me with pride of having you and yours in his beloved family. Ryan and Joseph, you will know that he numbered you amongst his cherished grand children,
Eddie served in Northern Ireland with the King’s Regiment before leaving the Army. He served with great pride. Pride in his Regiment and pride in his comrades, some of whom became lifelong friends and are here today, for which Anita wishes me to extend her thanks.
Typically he forged himself a new career in civil engineering becoming a specialist in the technique of continuous Concrete Pours for large structures.
Claire and Nikki chose Army careers and they have happy and abiding memories of leave spent at their home in Lodge Drive. They would descend on Mum and Dad with a team of squaddie pals. Eddie would entertain them with Army tales and Anita would turn the home into something resembling the NAAFI.
For his courage when life dealt him and his family Devastatingly hard blows. The death, in cruelly tragic circumstances, of his beloved son Michael, as he was just entering manhood, coupled with the development of Anita’s complex serious health issues, requiring him to give up work to care for her, where in themselves enough to crush lesser men. Yet he never wavered in his love attention and protection of the other loves in his life, his daughters and grandchildren.
Claire will recall the time he drove non stop to Germany when she found herself in difficulties, sorted the problem, turned round and drove back.
Nikki had her dream of owning a pony fulfilled together with all the trimming’s, and lavished with all the love advice and encouragement of a devoted dad so that today she owns several fine animals and runs her own equestrian yard. That was Eddie always a rock like presence throughout their triumphs and disasters.
To see the light shine in his splendid grand children’s eyes, the love trust and respect when they entered his prescience and to witness the smile of pleasure from Eddie at their progress and achievements was truly moving to behold.
Eddie was a decent human being with the kind of integrity that said let me help, and as I have already said a consistent and honest man. He was as I am sure John O’Neill and Gerard will testify, the type of man you would like at your side when its raining problems and there are hard yards to travel. The King’s Regimental motto is Nec Aspera Terrent which translates into “Difficulties be Damned”. This absolutely personified Eddie. The education system of his time had served him and many like him badly. All his achievements have been the result of his own determined spirit to be as good as he could be and again I am here to tell you that he achieved that by some distance.
Despite the set backs he buckled down and earned a degree in computer science in programming and hardware and in between became an accomplished writer having several short stories published. It came as no surprise to me, but it does represent no mean achievement for a kid from the south end of the ‘Pool’.
Some thanks are due to those who supported Anita and family during Eddie’s epic courageous and truly inspiring battle with his vicious illness, in particular to Pat for her tireless help and friendship, it was and is greatly appreciated. To Andrew, her son, to John O’Neill and family, Gerard Williams, Ray and Flo, all steadfast and valued friends. The medical staff who assisted him and the many neighbours and friends.
In conclusion I would just like to say to his much loved Grandchildren here present, Ryan, Joseph, Kyisha, Cassius and Elise, your grandfather was much loved and admired, a man of courage and principal, who loved you all beyond price. He was a fantastic role model and he has left you a marvellous legacy - wear it with pride.
Rest in Peace Eddie
WHO DIED ON 1ST AUGUST 2011.
Delivered at St Michaels and all the Angels, 9th August 2011 by Bill Rimmer
Anita, Claire, Nikki and Sharon, I am grateful to you for allowing me too deliver this all to brief eulogy To Eddie. I want you all to know that I deem it a great privilege. Having said that I must first apologise to Eddie as I intend to start with one of his pet hates, a cliché. Sorry Eddie but its true – ‘To know him was to love him’.
Marguerite and I first met Eddie when our beloved niece Anita towed him shyly by the hand into our Home in Liverpool and proudly announced him as ‘The Boyfriend’. It did not take long for me to realise that this bright eyed floppy haired young man, born on the South Docks end of Liverpool, which was then a grimy little huddle on the banks of the Mersey called Garston, was special even then, with a quiet innate intelligence and a palpable desire to know.
Another trait that was evident then and in my humble opinion went on to define the man who was Frenchie was his consistent and absolute honesty. In his thoughts words and deeds (not the aggressive listen to me type) but he said what he meant and he meant what he said.
Marguerite and I were delighted when wedding bells sounded not long after Eddie had joined 1st Battalion The King’s Regiment and then whisked Anita off to a fairy tale start in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. A magical time for them both, Made more so when near the end of the three year tour, Anita arrived home to deliver them what was to become the start of a consuming passion, his family. This was to be Baby Claire, followed by the flame haired Nikki and their only son Michael. Typically Anita and Eddie gathered themselves another daughter in the form of Sharon, when her parents tragically died. I am here to tell you Sharon, that he loved you like his own and spoke to me with pride of having you and yours in his beloved family. Ryan and Joseph, you will know that he numbered you amongst his cherished grand children,
Eddie served in Northern Ireland with the King’s Regiment before leaving the Army. He served with great pride. Pride in his Regiment and pride in his comrades, some of whom became lifelong friends and are here today, for which Anita wishes me to extend her thanks.
Typically he forged himself a new career in civil engineering becoming a specialist in the technique of continuous Concrete Pours for large structures.
Claire and Nikki chose Army careers and they have happy and abiding memories of leave spent at their home in Lodge Drive. They would descend on Mum and Dad with a team of squaddie pals. Eddie would entertain them with Army tales and Anita would turn the home into something resembling the NAAFI.
For his courage when life dealt him and his family Devastatingly hard blows. The death, in cruelly tragic circumstances, of his beloved son Michael, as he was just entering manhood, coupled with the development of Anita’s complex serious health issues, requiring him to give up work to care for her, where in themselves enough to crush lesser men. Yet he never wavered in his love attention and protection of the other loves in his life, his daughters and grandchildren.
Claire will recall the time he drove non stop to Germany when she found herself in difficulties, sorted the problem, turned round and drove back.
Nikki had her dream of owning a pony fulfilled together with all the trimming’s, and lavished with all the love advice and encouragement of a devoted dad so that today she owns several fine animals and runs her own equestrian yard. That was Eddie always a rock like presence throughout their triumphs and disasters.
To see the light shine in his splendid grand children’s eyes, the love trust and respect when they entered his prescience and to witness the smile of pleasure from Eddie at their progress and achievements was truly moving to behold.
Eddie was a decent human being with the kind of integrity that said let me help, and as I have already said a consistent and honest man. He was as I am sure John O’Neill and Gerard will testify, the type of man you would like at your side when its raining problems and there are hard yards to travel. The King’s Regimental motto is Nec Aspera Terrent which translates into “Difficulties be Damned”. This absolutely personified Eddie. The education system of his time had served him and many like him badly. All his achievements have been the result of his own determined spirit to be as good as he could be and again I am here to tell you that he achieved that by some distance.
Despite the set backs he buckled down and earned a degree in computer science in programming and hardware and in between became an accomplished writer having several short stories published. It came as no surprise to me, but it does represent no mean achievement for a kid from the south end of the ‘Pool’.
Some thanks are due to those who supported Anita and family during Eddie’s epic courageous and truly inspiring battle with his vicious illness, in particular to Pat for her tireless help and friendship, it was and is greatly appreciated. To Andrew, her son, to John O’Neill and family, Gerard Williams, Ray and Flo, all steadfast and valued friends. The medical staff who assisted him and the many neighbours and friends.
In conclusion I would just like to say to his much loved Grandchildren here present, Ryan, Joseph, Kyisha, Cassius and Elise, your grandfather was much loved and admired, a man of courage and principal, who loved you all beyond price. He was a fantastic role model and he has left you a marvellous legacy - wear it with pride.
Rest in Peace Eddie