Monday 12th December
Farewell to Keith Harper
..or Richard Keith Harper as we found out..
Little did we know as a handful gathered up at Cricket how many around Somerset had the same plans in mind.
Clubhouse had a dozen other golfers, but no chance of any meaningful golf as it was pretty miserable, which is befitting such a sad day.,
Apologies to Geoff Dean as he was met with a car with 5 of us jammed in, so he journeyed alone but with a smile as usual.
As we arrived the previous group were still leaving, which added to the congestion which was starting to build, and they kept on coming..
Entrance to reception was already overflowing and that holds over 50....
and behind us there were 200 more.......
somewhere you can see...
...Nick George; Paul England & Margaret; Mike Hone; Roger Stone; John Pearce; Ted Bryden; Norman Markby; Mike Mosser; Gordon Bareham; Clive Fisk & Lady from Memory Café; Brian Marsh; Malcolm Roy; Geoff Dean; Alan Davis; Stuart Pope; Mike Light & Gracie ; Ian Pamplin; Dickie Hall; Mike King; David Walgrove; Bernie Skeels; Ian Fielder, Andrew Perry; Steve Elswood and Ian Dodd.
The 100 seats were filled with Family & those that got there before 10:30 and I counted another 200 crammed in at the back and down both sides.
It was a non-religious ceremony conducted with dignity by a Mrs Derren Gallo.
Then we learned more about 'Dad' from the eldest of his three Sons Keith. Other Sons Simon & John were in the front row with numerous Grandchildren and of course Julie.
Son Mark was very calm as he recounted the many aspects of the life of 'Mr Ilminster'.
Mark's opening line was that there were more here than at Yeovil's last Match - a Team where of course he was a Season-Ticket Holder, as well as Taunton Cricket Club.
From Head Boy at Ilminster Grammar School, to Lloyds Bank and then joining father Ken in Harper Dolman Insurance.
He was Captain of Ilminster Cricket Club and then Chairman, Played Football with Chard and also Squash, Golf etc before doing some coaching.
You could sense from Mark what a lovely Dad & Granddad he was, commanding respect in every area of his life.
His Golfing Life was very dear to him in the latter years and he wished he had taken it up much earlier.
Met and married Miss Julie Gummer in 1969 and raised this fantastic Family.
Another Son, John also stood and said a few words, clearly very emotional, but fought through it all to thank so many for coming and inviting all 300 to the 50 square foot Bowling Club for a reception.
We chatted to a few outside and found his Best man , a colleague from the Rotarians, Fellow Freemasons from the Ilminster Nyanza Lodge and of course 20-30 Golfers.
It was a real pity that it wasn't practicable for us to go to the reception as it's nice for the relatives to meet others in his life and vice-versa.
Took quite a few other Pictures around the place today, but I think I'll leave today to Keith, a true Gentleman and lovely guy.
It was a real pity that it wasn't practicable for us to go to the reception as it's nice for the relatives to meet others in his life and vice-versa.
Took quite a few other Pictures around the place today, but I think I'll leave today to Keith, a true Gentleman and lovely guy.
