Bill Shipton's Funeral

[Mike Nomic]

This will be on Thursday 25th July at 10.15 at Hastings Cemetery & Crematorium, The Ridge, Hastings, East Sussex. TN34 2AE.

Do not dress as if for a funeral, no black clothes, jeans and T-shirt or a clown's outfit are fine. There is to be no mention of custard or beans, etc, as his parents are still unaware.

It is planned to hold a full memorial service and wake later in the year, with a charity event in support of Crohn's disease; more details will follow later.

Mike.

[dirtydids]

I am attending Mike,I have also had confirmation from Candy so will be picking her up on my way down
Dids

[HenryWilcox]

Thanks Mike - I can't make it I'm afraid, but I wish you well.

[carolinewalker_2000]

Thanks for letting us know the details. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it on Thursday, but will observe a one minute silence at 10:15 and then raise a glass in Bill's memory. I hope you guys will be able to ptotect Clive's parents from learning things they might prefer not to know. My thoughts will be with you.

[SimonW]

If I were not 300+ miles away, I would certainly try to be there, but will join in a minutes silence and toast to Bill's memory.
As carolinewalker says, we must remember that the Bill Shipton who we knew and loved was only one part of Clive's character, and we must therefore also remember that discretion is important, particularly as it seems that Clive's parents are elderly and, I believe, in poor health.

[Smiley]

Will observe a one minute silence at 10:15 Thursday morning too.

[andy250]

I too, will join the minutes silence 10:15am on the day of the service, as mark of respect.

Mike, it might be worth offering this to the other members on umd, board if they wish to pay their respect's in their own way.

[Splattella]

I hope all goes well. I will remember him on Thursday, and do something suitably messy in his honour.

[wsmproductions]

Thanks Mike for funeral details.
With the travel distance and out of respect for Bill's elderly parents, I make an absence apology.
I will raise a tin of beans at 10.15am tomorrow in awesome respect for Mr. Splosh!
Mike Ellison
www.wsmproductions.co.uk

[messylaura]

Mordicus and myself will be attending too.



ps.regaurding attending have a couple of Questions for you Mike in a pm

[topcattopone]

I was thinking about the proceedings in Hastings today. Sorry I could not be there. I trust no-one upset Bill's parents by putting on a display.

[Candy Custard]

I was thinking about the proceedings in Hastings today. Sorry I could not be there. I trust no-one upset Bill's parents by putting on a display.

No, and nobody would have done. Please credit us with at least some social scruples.

However, it turned out to my great surprise and delight that Alex Lester actually included talking about Bill's splosh work in his fantastic tribute during the service. Not only that, but he did it in a very positive and matter of fact way.. it was all very clever, very sweet, witty and heartfelt... and when it came to the mention of splosh, he had clearly done his research, understood the endless praise and kind words us sploshers had written for Bill in tribute and really understood it.

Bill's parents were both proud that their son had such a far reaching influence, and helped so many people feel normal and accepted. I spoke to them a few times (and was blown away and in awe each time at how sweet, together, open minded and clever they are) On one occasion Bill's father said to me that as a baby and small child, Bill had often been rejected and treated cruelly because of his 'wonky face' (Bert's own words) and he felt it very fitting that his son had helped people who felt like outsiders, and that he was so clearly liked, loved, adored by so many in the end. I may have had something in my eye (again) at that point.

The whole service was beautiful and all in all a very fitting send off, with a lovely atmosphere afterwards, thanks (in no small way I'm sure) to Alex for his wonderfully positive take on things and Bill's amazing, sweet and kind parents who were so, so proud and handled the whole thing so well, with such dignity, a ready smile, handshake and listening ear for anyone, even though it must have been utterly exhausting and emotional for them.

My thanks and condolences to Alex and all at the Marina Fountain pub who were so welcoming, friendly and gave Bill such a fitting send off. All of them the kind of people who restore your faith in the human race. Thanks also to dids for making it possible for me to attend.

[boxster]

Thank you for the wonderful description of the funeral, Candy.

[HenryWilcox]

It sounds like the perfect goodbye to a very well-loved man.

Thanks for the report, Candy - I'm glad to hear it was a lovely send-off.

[topcattopone]

Thanks Candy for your description of the day. I'm so glad it went well.