STOKESLEY PROBUS CLUB
EULOGIES
Wilfred Lynn Elliott
Wilf was born on 3rd April 1941 in Hetton-
He passed away on 21st Feb. 2024 aged 82 in James Cook University Hospital.
A Service for Wilf was held in St Bede’s Chapel at Middlesbrough Crematorium on Friday 22nd March.
This was followed by refreshments at the Masonic Hall in Stokesley.
Both venues were fully supported.
(Regrettably I was unable to attend due to commitments at Newcastle Airport. Many thanks to Chris Lee for sending me an audio account of the service. I was also helped through telephone conversations with James Elliott; and Norris Wilson, David Kirkham and
Barry Richardson from the Freemasons.
The Celebrant was James.
He described Wilf as bringing happiness because he lived in our lives.
Wilf researched local history and was proud of his Sunderland roots.
He was a Maccam supporter.
He was also pleased and proud to live in North Yorkshire especially the Roseberry Topping area.
He enjoyed a happy childhood being adventurous with a nefarious sense of humour.
He had a reliable work ethic from an early age helping his Uncle on his milk round.
Wilf enjoyed his education and was good at Maths.
He left his job at the Coal Board for a Career in Banking at Lloyds.
He was a Bank Manager at Branches in Stanley, Peterlee, Billingham and Stockton.
Wilf worked long and hard throughout his career.
He married Marilyn in 1969
They had two sons: James born in 1978 and Peter born in 1980.
Wilf enjoyed cycling. He was a Club member and taught James, Peter and his grandson Harrison to cycle.
Wilf enjoyed a close love and friendship with Harrison.
They enjoyed summer holidays cycling in NY and many areas of England.
James remembered his Dad with a focus on Wine.
Wilf always told him that ‘all wines are good but some are better than others’.
James visited Spain with Wilf and learned to love Rioja.
They spent 25 years on wine trips visiting Spain and France, then Italy and Portugal.
James studied wine following encouragement and teachings from his Dad. This encompassed North and South American wines especially from Chile and California.
Wilf regularly conducted many wine tastings, with James in attendance.
They enjoyed many ‘booze runs’ to Spain and France especially the warehouse in Calais.
A favourite Xmas present had been a Hugh Johnson wine diary.
So, James raised a glass in his Dad’s honour.
Peter remembered his Dad with a focus on Music.
Dad gave generously to us and to others. We enjoyed holidays, adventures, my first beer and football.
Mostly, we enjoyed a love of music, especially Jazz.
We played tapes over and over to the point of wearing them out.
Dad taught me about Jazz and music including Thin Lizzie.
It was a profound education. It was osmosis learning through Dad.
We loved Hotel California.
I was a young mind filled with music such as the 1988 Guns and Roses album.
We attended many live shows including Folk Music.
Guitar music became central.
In 1991 Dad bought me an electric guitar from JJ Windows in Newcastle. I taught myself, became accomplished and now play gigs in a band.
I had the gift of growing up with music, jazz and the electric guitar at the heart of it thanks to Dad.
I shall always be grateful for his Gift of music.
Celebrant
Wilf also loved Gardening.
He had a charitable nature.
He was a proud Member of the Freemasons, Rotary and Probus Club.
He made his mark and many friendships.
He was a regular contributor in various Zoom Mtgs through Covid.
He was a keen supporter of Projects in Africa. He helped to build schools especially for girls. He linked Sunderland FC with the work donating many team strips. He was known as Chief Wilf.
Wilf was a man known for his generosity both in time and materially.
He was a very loyal man.
A good man who enjoyed a good life.
The Service finished with a Poem; A Good Man Never Dies
and a visual display on the screen as a Tribute.
PROBUS
Wilf joined Probus on 20th February 2018
Proposed by Norris Wilson and Seconded by ???
His interests were Wine, Jazz, Freemasonry, Travel and Financial Investment.
Members
KW: Wilf told me of his many booze runs with James to Huddersfield wine festivals.
Chris Lee: Very sad news. I will miss him.
Peter Robinson: Very sad news. I agree, a lovely man. The Club and the World are poorer for his loss.
Bob Scott: Very sad. Still a shock even though we knew he was ill.
Garry Turner
23rd May 1931 -
Garry was born on 23rd May 1931 and passed away on 19th July 2024 aged 93.
He lived in Nunthorpe with his wife Hilary but has resided in a Care Home in Nunthorpe for the last few years.
Garry had lived overseas in Europe, Africa and the Far East.
He served in the Army for 20 years followed by 20 years as Personnel Manager and Consultant with ICI.
Garry was a member and keen supporter of The Durham Light Infantry Association.
He was instrumental in the organisation of a Probus visit to the DLI Museum
on Thursday 1st August 2013 attended by 12 Members and 5 Guests.
Garry was interested in Current affairs and the Countryside.
He was proposed for Probus membership by David Middleton and
Mike Sockett on 15th June 2010.
He resigned from membership on 16th July 2019 due to ill-
A Service for Garry was held in St Bede’s Chapel at Middlesbrough Crematorium on Tuesday 13th August attended by KW
Refreshments followed at the Blue Bell Hotel.
Brian Cooper Nichols
Brian was born on 11th October 1930 in Warrington and passed away in James Cook Hospital on Tuesday 10th September 2024 aged 93.
He lived in Hutton Rudby just behind the Wheatsheaf Inn with his wife Gillian.
Brian had lots of memories of war year problems but was very happy growing up eating a banana every day.
He began a love of skiing in 1951 with trips to Norway and then Austria.
Accommodation was in former Nazi barracks.
In 1953 Brian fell in love with Mt Snowdon.
This was the start of his passion for Mountain Rescue. He was a Founder Member of Cheshire Mountain Rescue.
Brian had many interests:
he loved holidays in Venice
all sports especially Liverpool, tennis and Olympic cycling
he was a car enthusiast following F1.
he bought clapped out motors such as his TR7 and Gondola, kept them for a year and then scrapped them;
he loved his pipe, was never without it;
he loved books and always had a stack of 8 or 9 fiction and non-
he had a massive general knowledge including cars, trains, politics, history and industrial archaeology;
he was excellent in pub quizzes;
he took the family to Croatia, visited a museum and related the story of the Austro/Hungarian war;
he loved Mozart, Sibelius, jazz and films;
he loved Wensleydale cheese, Eccles cakes and potatoes;
and he loved talking.
He was ‘Father’ to the children and a great one. He loved his grandchildren.
He loved his sheepskin coat for the touchline watching the boys play football.
He was always positive and helpful; a dedicated and supportive father.
He was full of ease and life.
He was a dapper Gentleman, smart with a cravat. He never wore jeans,
but, he did love his oldest sweaters and breeches for mountain walks.
Brian and Gill loved the Wheatsheaf in HR enjoying a dinner there every week.
Brian’s parents did not allow him to go to University. He needed a job.
He was found one at the NatWest.
He worked for the bank for 40 years mostly as a Branch Manager in Salford.
Brian joined Probus on 16th October 2007 proposed by Mervin Davies and someone else. He stepped down from membership at the AGM 2023 for health, age and transport reasons.
A Service for Brian was held in St Bede’s Chapel at Middlesbrough Crematorium on Thursday 3rd October. About 40 people attended. Keith Waller attended from Probus.
We entered the service to Mozart and left to Dave Brubeck.
The service included a poetry reading from Emma Nichols, Brian’s granddaughter and a eulogy shared by his two sons Rupert and Mark.
Donations in lieu of flowers were requested to support Mountain Rescue.
I left a small Probus donation.
Refreshments were offered at The Wheatsheaf in Hutton Rudby.
At Brian’s request, his ashes will be spread by Mark and Rupert at the top of Mt. Snowdon.
EDGAR MOORE
Eddie was born on 17th January 1936 in East Murton near Seaham but grew up in Wolsingham in Weardale. He passed away on 22nd November 2024 aged 88.
A Service for Eddie was held on Tuesday 17th December in St. Hilda’s Chapel at Teesside Crematorium. Chris Griffiths and I attended with Eddie’s daughters Karen and Hazel and their families. Even Eddie’s cleaning lady attended, a mark of real friendship. She was telling me how Eddie just loved to sit and chat rather getting any work done.
The Service programme was designed by Eddie himself to include lots of music, poetry, humour and memories. Eddie’s idea was to embrace enjoyment and a celebration of life.
Eddie was described as a unique, happy and humorous man. He enjoyed risqué fun within a kind heart. He loved people, cycling, ‘good life’ gardening, caravan holidays with his Morris Minor, the arts, culture, cherry blossom, the Yorkshire Dales, Ireland, WW2 Beaches, and dressing up and singing. He enjoyed wearing Boro supporters’ hats and jumpers.
He was a keen supporter of the Guide Dogs Association and sponsored a dog: Rupert. He wrote two Books. One on Botany and A River Runs Through It.
He recommended two poems for others to read: Seven Ages of Man by Shakespeare and Let Me Die A Young Man’s Death by Roger Gough.
Eddie married Isabelle on 22nd August 1959. Sadly she passed away in 2010 after 51 years of marriage. He loved reading bedtime stories to his daughters and grandchildren. He loved telling ‘dad jokes’ and keenly supported their education. He loved the big family gatherings, friendships and bridge. Eddie toured the nation playing bridge for fun (and in competitions) as well as visiting local attractions with Chris Griffiths. Post Brexit their friend Gail joined them to visit local historical sites and concerts. The Three Amigos.
His first job was as a postman delivering letters to farms and villages.
He then spent 2 years in the RAF. He toured the world and especially loved Bulawayo. He trained to be a Teacher at Leeds University and taught in Middlesbrough at Whinney Banks Primary and Langbaurgh Secondary Schools. He then moved on as a lecturer in Horticulture at Stockton Billingham Technical College. He taught himself Latin and French. In 2020, aged 84, he gained a BA in Classical Studies through the OU
Eddie lived in Stainton and joined Probus in February 2023 with Chris Griffiths. He was enduring significant ill-
KW 21.1.25
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