Euology for Simon

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EUOLOGY FOR SIMON Alan Harvey, his Dad: 15 March 2012

Before giving this eulogy for Simon I want to share with you something my

grandmother taught me.

She said : never fail to say, please, sorry and thank you. Four words, words that

can change how we are seen, and how people treat us.

Firstly, can you all please help me, and each other to make this occasion one of

celebration, of joy as I know that Simon would want his farewell to take place

in a mood of celebration and thankfulness .

Secondly, I am sorry that so many dear friends and close relatives cannot be withus today, in the celebration of Simons life. They are sorry and have said so.

Lastly, I thank you all for joining me and my family today, notably those who have

travelled from Australia and Vietnam, and members of Kerrys family who have

made the long journey from the North East.

I stand before you a grief stricken father, yet, yet feeling so proud of my first born

son, Simon.

The name Simon comes from the Hebrew and means 'hearkening'/ listening how

apt, recalling the warm and sincere recollections we heard from Matthew Parkes,

Terry Appleton, Matthew Brown and Tony Loftus; for Simon was ever ready to

listen, such a rare and precious quality in a friend

It was on the 6th

November, 1969 that Simon came into our lives, making Angela

and I parents for the first time; a big boy for a baby at 8 pounds. Little did we

know that he would grow up to be known as Twiney

This little, big fella has touched the lives of so many in those few 42 years he was

with us.

He grew up a content and fun loving boy, close to his brother Christopher, his

sister Rebecca and his little brother Nich. As soon as he could walk he became my


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shadow, at the age of 5 even playing painter, to Angelas horror, on the top of a

scaffold platform as I repainted the outside of our house at Purley. Collecting

kitchen waste water in a plastic toy saucepan from the sink outlet was another of

his passions, this for ponds and river building in the garden! His school life was

one filled with friends and a strong appetite to understand, as distinct from

learning what teachers tried to impart! A very intelligent son, a book lover, a very

able swimmer, gaining his gold medal for life saving. He and I shared many happy

miles cycling both here and in France, where the French way of life immediately

appealed to him.

His early working life started in retailing but he soon found his forte in the

computer parts and associated industries. Hard working and very loyal, his

employers and their clients recognised Simons strengths, and appreciated them

fully; evidenced today by the many here with us to share in his farewell.

It was in 1991 that he and Kerry became parents to our first grandson, Sam. Sam,

who is with us today, now 12, was very, very, close to his Dad you will note his

floral tribute atop of Simons coffin before us. Look at Sam and you see a mini

Simon! Sam was the anchor in Simons life, they did everything together and not

surprisingly shared the same sense of humour. Like Simon, Sam has the gift of

making friends readily. I ask that you all keep Sam in your prayers, along withKerry, Rebecca and Nicholas in the months and years ahead.

I pay heartfelt tribute to my son Simon for the way he lived his life, free from ego,

conceit, envy but most important his talent for bringing brightness and real

happiness to the lives of so many. Just yesterday, one of his friends said this of

Simon:

There was no one like him. I loved him for his humble, deeply felt passion about everything important to

him.

I want to close with the simple poem I used when saying farewell to Simons Mum

it remains fitting:


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Simon

I thought of you with love today

but that is nothing new.

I thought about you yesterdayand days before that too.

I think of you in silence

I often speak your name

All I have are memories

and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsakewith which I'll never part

God has you in His keeping

I have you in my heart.

We bid farewell to a wonderful son, brother, partner to Kerry, father, uncle,

friend and colleague.

Simon: May God grant you everlasting Peace, Rest and Joy in his Kingdom.


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Euology for Simon

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