| Thank you to Stephen Keefe for providing this touching eulogy for his late father, which has been edited for inclusion in this newsletter.
Many condolence messages have mentioned memories of Dad’s piano playing. As children at Boyton House, whilst we were seldom in the lounge to witness the playing, the sound of piano music vibrating through the walls was a constant of our childhood. In addition to the piano, the organ, and the piano accordion, Dad loved singing and felt it was his duty to “sing up”. Although the volume of his singing might have embarrassed me as a child, I now appreciate that this world needs people who sing up.
Before attending university, Dad did his National Service. Most of this involved messing about in small boats, avoiding any threat of either conflict or hard work. He was posted to the Suez Canal, which was all in good order when he left it; and even managed a return visit to Copenhagen from the Isle of Wight in an open boat.
After National Service, he went up to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from where he graduated with a master’s degree. He was a rower both at Cambridge, and at Norwich Rowing Club and it was there in around 1957 that Dad met Mum. He attended Law School in Guildford before joining Daynes Keefe & Co as an Articled Clerk and qualified as a solicitor in the same year that he married Mum.
Dad was a proud member of the Dyers’ Company in London for 68 years and through that was a Freeman of the City of London.
Dad died one week before his and Mum’s 64th wedding anniversary. So he saved himself another overly romantic and expensive gesture there. Dad loved Mum; he loved his extended family, and especially his grandchildren; and he loved his music.
Bless you Dad, and bless you for singing up. |