Birth and Christening Announcements

Samuel George Fairweather
25 May 06

Andrew & Jo Fairweather are pleased to announce the arrival of Samuel George, a brother for Jacob.

Engagement and Wedding Announcements

Some of you will remember Helen, and her friend Louise Austin who is chief bridesmaid, from when they walked numerous dogs, fed a menagerie of animals and looked after children around Occold. Some may remember Chris because he has had to put houses in Occold back onto electricity after power cuts. He is also an essential part of the production of ORACLE.

Helen, and her proud parents, would welcome anyone who remembers her to come and witness her take her vows in church.

Obituary and Funeral Announcements

Stan Warnes took an active part in the Annual Parish and Annual Parish Council Meetings on Monday 14th May but sadly died the following day. A substantial number of Occold councillors and friends travelled up to Norwich for his cremation service on the 30th May.

Stan was a Norfolk man but worked for BT all round East Anglia before retiring here in Occold. He was a conscientious and loyal Occold Parish Councillor for nearly 10 years and always on the ball with the details of council business.

His friends remember him as gentleman but a man who knew his own mind. The final music at the service was the 1812 Overture and that is how he will be remembered - going out with a bang not a whimper!

Kevin Chittock Chairman OPC

Excerpts from eulogy by Claire Damant (nee Garnham) at the funeral of
Jack Cobb

Jack Cobb battling through the Occold snow approximately twenty years ago.

Well where do you start when it comes to describe Jack? Well as you may know, Granddad was born in Guys Hospital, London on June 18th 1927. He was brought up in Occold from the age of six months by his grandparents Millie and Ernest Cobb, where he spent his childhood years before he joined the army in 1943.

Granddad originally worked on the railway at Stowmarket. Poor old man would bike from Occold to Stowmarket every day, no wonder he had trouble with his legs in later life. Granddad left the railways to work on Hall Farm for Mr Hagg where granddad worked the land. The farm was handed down to the Percivals where both Nan and granddad continued to work. Nan would collect the eggs whilst granddad would continue his usual duties. The farm was later taken over by Robert Owen, not only was Robert his employer, but also became a very dear friend.

Granddad will be most known to you all for his time he spent socialising, whether it was at his local pubs or social club. However ill granddad was he always made the effort to meet his best loved friends for a pint or two. If he couldn’t get out I know his friends would visit for a quick whisky and a chat to make sure all was well.

Since my Nan passed away in 1995 I don’t think there has been a single day my mum didn’t spend with granddad. She did his shopping if he couldn’t, she cleaned him when he couldn’t and even dressed him when he couldn’t. I know we have all done something in our lives to help and aid granddad but what my mum has done for him in his life is remarkable and I know he is looking down now a very proud man.

Sadly I have to come to an end. We will all have fond memories of granddad which we will take to our graves, but of all of these please remember Jack was a remarkable man. H e was cheeky, headstrong and very independent man who always had to pay his way, a loving and devoted husband, father, granddad and great granddad and most of all a fantastic friend who will be missed dearly. So here’s goodbye to a great man we will always love who I know is finally able to rest in peace.
Excerpts from eulogy by Claire Damant (nee Garnham) at the funeral of Jack Cobb

Isabel was born in East Winch and the family moved to Occold in 1936, where her father found employment at Hall Farm. Later Isabel also went to work at Occold Hall, as a domestic help – it turned out to be a job for life! As Isabel became a valued employee and trusted friend to successive owners of the hall – becoming almost part of their families.

Having been pupils together at Occold Primary, Isabel and Clifford, met up again when they were 17. They were married in Eye, had 54 happy years together and were blessed with three children Susan, Lorna and Roger and five grandchildren. Isabel worked hard to provide a comfortable home for her family. In her younger days, and particularly during the war years, Isabel enjoyed dancing and went to numerous dances here in Occold and in Thorndon.

Isabel also took her responsibilities to the community seriously. She was a regular member of the congregation, here at S. Michaels and for some years served on the PCC She was also a founder member of ORAC and served as a committee member.

Isabel will be remembered for her strength of character, her kind caring nature and for being a loving wife and supportive mother and grandmother. She contributed much to the life of this church and community and will be much missed by all who knew her.
May she rest in peace!

As we have found one grand old Occoldian of the steam age, we have lost another. Our old pal Wilf was a railway linesman for much of his working life, notably on the nearby Middy (Mid Suffolk Light Railway). In later years, he was a conscientious maintenance man at the labs and lastly a chauffeur for those in need of care; but was always a linesman at heart with his love of steam engines and Country & Western.