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

“”He won’t come to no good”

That is what the doctor said of Kenny Elliott, within his earshot, as he lay in his bed with juvenile paralysis (polio). Despite the further knock back of a very severe car accident as a young man, Kenny stubbornly refused to accept the limitations of his disability and ploughed through life, finding work wherever it was to be had and helping others whenever he could.

During the war Kenny found his niche as a local entertainer. Peggy Bull (who was born a few months after Kenny) told me of his exploits travelling around the village halls with his accordion. It was his account of an Occold Kazoo band during the war that lead us to incorporate an ad-hoc Kazoo band into the Occold PROMZ.

Kenny lived for many years in Dublin Road just yards over the border in Rishangles. And he would have lived out his final years there, had others not taken it upon themselves to get him moved to Eye. He must have been well loved in Dublin Road, as his old neighbours turned out in force at his funeral service.

He wasn’t the sort to covet awards and accolades. In fact the only award I am aware of him ever receiving was in 1999, when he was awarded the Lionheart Communuity Award by Pat Lewis Peugeot. The £50 was promptly divided between his two favourite charities, Quidenham Hospice and Hartismere  Playscheme.

In terms of personal safety, nutrition and living standards, Kenny broke just about every rule in the book, but none the less lived to 86 and was still drawing his pictures in hospital the week he died.

Kenny was really well known for just turning up at every kind of charity event you can imagine and offering to help. Often this involved him sitting at the entrance selling or giving out programmes. But it didn’t end there, he loved to make things with the kids and, when he was  back home he would make things to sell for the charities.

Some time ago he really got into garden gnomes. Now we’re not really gnome people, but how can you resist when a man who would seem to have loads of problems of his own has put that much effort in for others? So we bought a Kenny Gnome and put it down the bottom of the garden and forgot about it. When I heard that Old Kenny had gone, I decided to go find it. Like Kenny it was battered but unbowed and will now take pride of place in our garden.

Out of Africa … in to Occold

John Victor Frederick Pringle was born on the 28th August 1928 in Middlesex. He entered the teaching profession and moved out to Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe). There he met and married Lucie Kathleen Woods.

Excerpts from the eulogy to Vic Pringle

late of Lathom, Tudor Court, Occold given by his son Andrew

 “This was an era of turmoil in Africa and Rhodesia in particular. As that country literally burnt with hatred Vic & Lucie made the decision that it was not the place to bring up a young family and so returned to England.

I remember three photos of this time which as a trilogy speak volumes. 

1.  Me in mothers arms at Victoria Falls - She with a beehive hair do and Dame Edna style glasses of the 1960 with one of the true wonders of the natural world as a back drop.  This shoot clearly illustrates Dad’s love of nature, photography and family.

2.  Keith and I with our parents and the few belongings they could fit into a very small Fiat car for our return to the UK.  A good record shot of what must have been an emotional time.

3.  A rather unflattering one of yours truly in fancy dress on the ship coming home. I have only just forgiven Dad for that one!

Lucie’s childhood was spent in Suffolk around the Saxtead/Tannington area.  Granddad Woods was in fact born in this village of Occold.  Hence a family home was established in Worlingworth and we were soon joined by sister Ruth.  Dad found work at Wickham Market primary school.

Dad’s ideals, which I have already mentioned of value, fairplay and love, all shared with Mum, and interests in wildlife, history, literature and sport made for a firm foundation for the years to come.

I mentioned before Dad’s inertest in sport.  On many occasions he took Keith and I to watch Bobby Robson’s all conquering, fantastic Ipswich Town. A few years ago I went to watch Ipswich at Derby.  In the pub before the game I got chatting with some of the away fans.  One came from Wickham Market.  I asked if he went to the primary school.  He did and furthermore he knew dad. 

‘Mr Pringle!’ he replied ‘He was my best teacher.’  Helpful, kind and fair are among the adjectives he used as he described how dad helped him with his studies and set him up with a good outlook on life.  He gave me his name and phone number, on a beer-mat, and insisted that I pass these details on to Dad with best regards and many thanks.

That was just one of Dad’s pupils.  Think how many others benefited from those qualities of value and fare play along with a healthy interest in the opportunities this world has to offer. Think also of the effect these former pupils upon others.  That, I believe, is a fitting legacy and one that means more than any monument or cenotaph.”

Vic Pringle

Trevor Bloom of Cedars Close passed away in Occold on the 21^st May. Trevor, who was born and bred at Barham Suffolk worked locally for Bruce Starke and has lived in our village for many years with his partner Diane. He also leaves his Mother, Father, Brother and two sisters. He was interred at St Mary & St Peter church, Barham on June 1^st. The church was crowded with those who knew and loved him.

Soon after moving in as his neighbour I realised that we shared a love of 1960’s music. His knowledge of which musician played in which band and the music they recorded was almost encyclopaedic as was his record collection. We spent far too long renewing acquaintance with the vinyl of our youth, but what enjoyable times they were with a good friend.

We all knew his love of wildlife, which flocked to his garden from far and wide and it was obvious that his ear was tuned to hear and identify birdsong that I could never hope to recognise. Trevor would also inform us of the bird’s plumage, nesting habits and where best to see them. The classic Rover car that he restored to pristine condition brought great joy not just to Trevor and Diane but also to those of us who accompanied him to the shows, including appearances at Occold’s Summer Fete.

There is another side of Trevor’s selfless character. Every week whilst out riding his bike through the village he would invariably return with the bags on his bike bulging with the cans, bottles and the other leftovers that he had picked up from the verges, thrown away by our passing visitors. So, if you now notice that there are more of those things beside the road than you would like - remember Trevor.                                    
Alan Moore

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.