Colin sadly passed away on 9th November, at St Wilfrid’s Hospice after a short illness, aged 81 years. Beloved husband of Maureen, much loved daddy of Vicky and Jolyon and loving grandpa of Max, Edward, Soren and Henry.
Eulogy for Colin
By Kate
For those of you that are not aware of how my sister Sarah and I came into the lives of Colin, Maureen, Vicky and Jolyon, I need to take you back to September of 1978. The hit movie “Grease” starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John had just been released and the highly pitched Bee Gees song “Staying Alive” dominated our airways. My parents had just been seconded to Brazil and Sarah and I were plunged into English boarding school life. Scurrying nuns and six hundred hormonally challenged girls became the norm. To our immense relief however, Colin and Maureen had been appointed as our legal guardians, offering us some respite in the form of ‘exeat’ weekends. Seizing the very first opportunity to enjoy some home comforts, Sarah and I used up one of our precious life-lines, and so it was, during our first ever exeat weekend, Colin and family welcomed us with open arms to number 7, High Trees, soon to become our second home.
Now, I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the children’s story book “My Naughty Little Sister’? Well, Sarah, otherwise known as “Sparky” was mine. She had learnt, being the fifth member of a family of six, that the louder she screamed, the more attention she got. Colin although totally unfamiliar with such tactics, was however quick to catch on. He had, after all, been thrown into the deep end by inadvertently becoming the father of not one but three daughters overnight! One blustery day, as we took a family walk along the beach, Sparky was up to her usual antics. Colin, on the other hand, was having none of it. As he casually slung her over his shoulder, he said in a nonchalant manner “We won’t be having any of that nonsense thank you very much’! and proceeded to chuck her into the sea!! From that point onwards, John Travolta slid right down in my popularity stakes as Colin took pride of place at the top, becoming my very own superhero!!
On a more sober note, another poignant memory springs to mind of a time when Colin had noticed that I was upset. Unlike most people, he did not try and offer me solutions, or endeavour to talk my sensitive teenager self out of my hurt feelings, but instead simply pulled me close and gave me a hug. People say that in life they do not remember what you have said to them, but they do remember how you made them FEEL. I am sure you will all agree with me when I say that Colin made people feel welcomed, understood and above all loved. Whether it was through his day to day banter, or via one of his funny jokes, delivering the punchline with prowess, he had the ability to brighten up any room by his mere presence and sense of fun.
As Heaven welcomes home one of it’s own, we have lost one of our best. But Colin’s legacy lives on in the form of a kaleidoscope of cheerful and heartwarming memories … such as pootling along in his ever faithful Citröen, Maureen by his side, Bee Gees blaring and cigarette in hand, as he shouts “You girls ok in the back?”
We were more than ok thank you Colin and what a fabulous ride it has been … I mean you set Sparky straight for a start! You constantly amused us with your jokes, entertained us with your banter, provided us with fun times and comforted us with hugs. Sarah and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for providing us with a loving sanctuary and safe haven from school and I personally thank you for being my superhero, all be it for too short a while. It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege knowing you.
And finally Colin I have not missed the irony of your name, as it slowly dawns on me that you have indeed had the last laugh …I picture the scene as you prepare to meet The LORD your Maker … you sauntering up to The Pearly Gates, reminiscent of a scene from a Bond movie, golf club in hand, trademark twinkle in your eye, as you proudly introduce yourself, “My name is LORD, Colin Lord!!”
