Graham Hemington Eulogy for Simon
I would like to start with a short poem.
Not how did he die, but how did he live?
Not what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away.
We are here today because in one way or another we were all touched by Simon's life.
Everyone has their own perspective and their own personal memories of that life. I want to share with you some of mine.
I also want to tell you why I will miss him.
I met Simon shortly after he and Karen moved to this area from Kent in 1997. Karen, and my wife Andrea, were keeping their horses at the same stables in Willingham.
The first time I met Simon he was in a cold dark stable mucking out, that wasn't what I had expected at all. But it was typical of Simon.
He always committed to what he was doing and wasn't afraid to muck in and help even if it wasn't his first choice. As we bumped into each other more regularly I saw that he was down to earth, good company and funny. We soon became good friends.
Over the last 10 years our families have grown up together. My daughter Nuala and Katy are only 8 weeks apart and Zac and Lucas just a year. So it was fairly natural that, as we got to know each other better, and enjoy each others company, we would holiday together.
On the first holiday we went to a wonderful farmhouse in the Loire valley in France. We would go out cycling through the local forests and Simon being a keen countryman was always the first to spot the wildlife or some unusual vegetation. I remember the most delicious wild strawberries that he found which I would have just cycled past oblivious. Even now the smell of fresh strawberries reminds me of that hot summer, wonderful French countryside and the great times we had back then.
On holidays Simon's friendly/sociable nature would always come out and most of the time this was a good thing.
On that holiday one day, we all cycled into the quiet town centre. We came to happened upona bar where 2 locals sat drinking pastis. Now my French was probably 10 times better than his at the time, but he was the one that managed to strike up a conversation using some unusual hand signals and mostly English words. I think he was trying to talk about the local woods and forests. After a few minutes we cycled off and he asked me if I had any idea what they had been saying. I said that most of it was pretty difficult for me to follow but I believed the last thing they said was..... 'We like your wives'.
In summer 2006 we went to Portugal and spent two weeks in the Algarve. Whilst the rest of us were lounging on the sunbed or reading a book or just idling the day away; Simon spent hours in the pool with the children, making up silly games and generally just entertaining them. This involved blowing up a multitude of inflatable toys before the games could even begin! Never once did he say that he was too tired or he’d had enough, such was his energy. It was obvious that he enjoyed it as much as the children did.
There is so much more to be said about Simon, but it will be said on other days.
And on those days I will remember him and be happy that I knew him.
I will miss his honesty
I will miss his sense of fun
I will miss the way he made every occasion that we were together enjoyable
I will even miss being scared at how fast he drove
Simon had a wonderful ability to put things into perspective and,
if he were here now I can hear him saying..... “Why are you lot so bloody miserable”
and with that we should smile and remember him smiling.
Thank-you