Dad was born in Herefordshire in 1942, the younger brother of John and David, and was educated at St Michael’s College in Tenbury. After trying out various jobs (including building the M1 in Derbyshire, working at Butlin’s in Bognor and social work in Nottinghamshire) he joined City and Guilds, the qualifications body, in 1970, where he stayed until he retired. He married Mum in the 1970s and they moved to Bedford, where I and my brothers, Olly and Tim, were born. He married Reiko in 2001, and they lived in Felmersham for his final decades.
Music was always a big part of Dad’s life. He played the guitar and, in later years, the piano. He inherited from his father a love of bellringing, and for a while was the tower captain at Felmersham. He studied music and got a degree from the Open University.
But singing was Dad’s real musical love, from when he was young – his diary when he was twelve records his enjoyment of the services he sung at St Michael’s - and he was an enthusiastic member of the Felmersham church choir, singing Gregorian chant as a side project. He was also part of the Bedford Choral Society for decades: not only did he sing, he spent nearly 25 years researching and writing his book about the history of the Society. His book, ‘Bedford’s Musical Society’ was published in 2015. It was a labour of love, and a remarkable achievement. A couple of years later, he self-published a book of piano transcriptions of his favourite guitar music, dedicated to his (then) five grandchildren. Most copies remain in Dad’s garage, which is a pity because they deserve to be played.
When he was young, Dad’s favourite toy was a red pedal car, which must have started a lifelong fascination with transport, particularly old bicycles. He accumulated, repaired and rode lots of old bikes, and for his fiftieth birthday got a penny-farthing and taught himself to ride it. People in Felmersham may remember it from when he rode it at village fetes. And more recently he enjoyed driving his Skoda, which happily has found a new home in Felmersham.
The Penny Farthing |
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Dad also liked making and growing his own food – he would spend hours at his allotment, and made his own jam, chutney and beer.
Dad was never defined by his work, but no one could spend 32 years working somewhere, as Dad did at City and Guilds, without the organisation leaving its mark on them - and them on it. When I spent a period working on qualifications, it was clear from the reactions I got when introducing myself to City and Guilds people that he was remembered with deep affection there. Dad showed a quiet, unassuming pride and interest in his work - he was always pleased when he met someone who had a ‘City and Guilds’, particularly a qualification he’d worked on, such as dog-grooming. He retained an interest in qualifications, doing exam invigilation at Sharnbrook Upper after he retired.
After Dad retired, he settled into a happy life as part of the community in Felmersham, with Reiko, his dogs - Georgie then Maisie - enjoying pottering in the garden, putting up shelves, and seeing his now six grandchildren. He went to Japan to meet Reiko’s family several times, and clearly charmed them; and in turn he loved discovering an unfamiliar culture.
Mike and Georgie
My children loved going to see grandad - a reassuringly predictable afternoon, with a plate indulgently full of chocolate biscuits followed by a walk with the dog, past the church, to the playground.
The last few years weren’t easy for Dad, made harder of course by the pandemic. But with Reiko’s unfailing support and love he was able to live at home until his last few months. I sometimes took Maisie for a walk (when she let me), and people would ask me how Dad was. And it’s clear from the last few weeks that his death has been keenly felt in Felmersham. A typical tribute to him read: ‘he was one of the nicest men I have ever known, and he will be most missed’.
On behalf of my family, I'd like to say thank you to the people of Felmersham who looked out and cared for Dad. We will all miss him.
Jeremy Benson
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