Tribute from Andrew
Thank you all for coming. It is very very nice of you. Gordon will thoroughly appreciate this. There is a lot to get through so I will rattle on.
Gordon would like you all to know his career.
So he started his career as an engineer making and stripping dynamos and alternators.
In 1953 he went into national service.
1954 he joined the Royal Military Police at SHAPE (that was a precursor to NATO)
In 1955 Gordon met Bob at the TA Stoke Newington
In 1958 he married Thelma
1960 was the first posting to Malaya
1963 we came back but only for 6 months then we were posted back to the Far East. The MFO boxes had not arrived they take 8 months so they had to be re-stamped and sent back again.
We lived in Singapore, Penang, Kluang and Gordon was with the 17th Division Gurkha Black Cats. He fought in Borneo for a year fighting the communist guerrillas.
We came back to Britain. Thelma had to have an operation because she had been stung by a Portuguese Man-o-war. She went into Norwich hospital for the procedure but she did not survive the operation. She was 27 years old.
Gordon then became stationed at Kensington High Street barracks and was security detailed for a Government delegation. This was to Yugoslavia, India and Pakistan.
In 1969 Gordon married Rose. We lived in Greenford Middlesex for a year.
Then in 1970 we went to West Berlin. Gordon was a Staff Sergeant in the 247 Provost company.
In 1973 posted to RAF Topcliffe. He and Sergeant Irving were the only two RMPs on the base. It was a 24th HQ Division Airportable Brigade
The NATO exercise that year was Exercise Snow Queen. There were 13 fatalities on that. 11 paratroopers that got drowned. Their chutes got caught in propellers. The Admiral that was supposed to stop the shipping committed suicide and the 13th fatality was Sergeant Irving. He was doing traffic patrol he got hit and killed by a Beetle. I went to school with his son.
But, Gordon, he was called up to his CEO because he was caught napping. No one realised that he had done 72 hours. No relief.
After that he got the Brixmis job.
That was 1974 posted to Potsdam.
Gordon was the Mission House officer. We lived in the Mission House which was a large mansion. We lived on the top floor.
Rose died of tumerous cancer on 1975. She had a military funeral and is buried in the British cemetery in West Berlin.
Gordon and I in 1976 returned to Southern England but we brought back an East German immigrant with us. Her name was Sherry. And she had to go through a 6 month debrief at Folkestone and Dover kennels.
In 1977 Gordon finished his last military post of service as CQMS (that is clothing quartermaster) at Roussillon barracks in Chichester.
In his report: “Military conduct was exemplary. He achieves the highest success rate of any task and is strongly recommended for any position of trust.”
In 1978 he joined the ministry defence police that operated out of Portsmouth dockyard.
In 1980 he was employed as a Parks and Leisure Inspector by Portsmouth City Council until the authority terminated the Parks Department.
In 1992 he worked on Terry Healey’s golf course. That was getting up at 6 o’clock in the morning all weathers all year round for these mad people with iron sticks.
In 1994 Gordon and Jean sold their assets (he said Andrew I am going to sell you inheritance) and they both sold their assets and they bought a lovely house in Waterlooville. They lived in sin for 12 years before getting married in 2006.
Gordon won all his hands with a very bad set of cards and on the 26th April 2020 he threw in his hand.
Thank you all for coming.
Eulogy by Andrew
11th December 2020
George (Gordon) Tribute
by Bob Pelham
I am truly honoured to be standing here today.
I am also unbelievably sad to be standing here today.
It is too soon by far for George to have left us.
My great regret is that I couldn’t be at his side when he decided to go. We thank Helen and Mel for being there at that important time. It could not have been easy.
I first met George in the army, at a Territorial Army unit in Stoke Newington, Islington in 1955. He was introduced to me as Corporal G Mitchell. I called him George for the next 65 years.
We immediately hit it off and he became part of my family. My children all called him Uncle George and though they are grown up, they still do.
I once said to Helen, if you’re lucky you get one true friend in your life. That was George.
He was always a real gentleman and held strong beliefs regarding behaviour and honesty and maybe at times could be a little stubborn. Everything was black or white, there were no grey areas. Once he had made his mind up about something there was no changing him.
I served with George in London, Woking, Berlin and Bulford or Tidworth and we met up on occasions between these postings.
In spite of his strong beliefs in truth and honesty, I did manage to lead him from the straight and narrow on a number of memorable and hilarious occasions. Even in recent times when his memory played him up, he would recall all our adventures as though they happened yesterday. He told me he used to get the blame for many of our misdemeanours. I found that very hard to believe.
Over the years George did so much for my family and I. Some of my best memories of him were when we were in great difficulties he would suddenly appear out of nowhere with this great comforting smile on his face. He would then take charge and proceed to organise us in such a way that we didn’t know there was a problem. He would make everything right. What a man.
I have been very fortunate to have been allowed to be Godfather to George’s only son Andrew. A better Godson I couldn’t wish to have. George later became Godfather to my son Gordon, and my grandson, Luke. He took Luke and my son Stephen who has learning difficulties on holidays and other great days out. I will always be grateful for the love he showed them
I was privileged to be his best man, some 14 years ago when he married his beloved Jean whom he adored.
My heart goes out to you Jean in your heart-breaking loss. You have been mine and Amanda’s great friend for many years and we would like it to stay that way please.
I am so glad that you have Helen and John to lean on in these difficult times. They are towers of strength.
George had many difficult years with hard knocks and heartache in his earlier years, but he never waivered or complained.
I admired him so much and loved him like a brother. A true Gentleman, always.
Bye for now my dearest friend, time to rest.
Reading of Eulogy by Bob Pelham
11th December 2020
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Poem to be read by Helen at the service - by Mary Elizabeth Frye
Helen
10th May 2020