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Brian Neil Kendrick

Entrance Music Lorena Instrumental

Welcome and Opening Words

Good afternoon and welcome here to say farewell and to honour the life of Brian Neil Kendrick.
Today is an opportunity to join in taking leave of someone who has been loved and respected but it is much more than that; it is the celebration of the life that he led, and an opportunity to tell parts of the story of his life and reflect on his uniqueness and special qualities.

It is hoped that this ceremony will also serve to comfort Neil and all of you here today.  

It’s almost impossible in just a few minutes to portray in words the life of a man who has lived for a full 95 years and no portrait, no matter how good, will be a complete reflection to you who knew him. I can only really sketch his picture and ask that you fill in the colours to complete the portrait with your own memories.


Today we will focus on some special memories recalled by Neil and some facts about the man who was Brian Neil Kendrick.






Memories of Brian
1927 a whole 95 years ago, Brian Neil Kendrick came into this world to his proud parents Thomas and Amy, little did they know that day , what Brian would achieve nor the man he would become, of course in those times children had very basic schooling, but this in later years proved to do Brian no harm .
Brian as a teenager lived through the war years and as with others he wanted to join the army, I will now share a story written by Neil re living Brian’s time in the home guard.


No Piker

Come the Second World War both Thomas and Brian Neil wanted to do their bit.
Unfortunately for the elder brother, he was in a reserved occupation.
And, the younger Brian was too young to join up.
But Brian had ideas of his own.
He had taken himself to the local Home Guard and asked to join up.
“Can you ride a motor-bike?” He had been asked.
“Yes,” the teen had answered, matter-of-factly.
He couldn't, yet within two weeks he could; having them book-reading, he was a dispatch rider riding a high-powered BMW, for the Home-Guard.

So, Brian’s determination and willingness to learn was there at an early age.

Brian loved to dance, at it was at a dance hall in in teens that he met a young girl Joan, little did he know that that day would be the start of a new chapter in his life, the young couple hit it off, and became inseparable. Iin fact Brian and Joan were soulmates. And in March 1952 they became Mr and Mrs Kendrick and the rest as they say is history.

Brian was a keen photographer and took many photographs over the years, one such photograph he entered into a competition in 1944, the title being “Moonlight” Brian became the proud winner of the £2.00 first prize with his photograph and his picture in the local press an accolade he was very proud of.
In the later forties and fifties Brian and Joan travelled through France, the Pyrenees and Switzerland, as old-style bikers, complete with round leather helmet and long heavy 'dust-coate.'
Brian was a black powder marksman, as well as a shooter with a local hunt; during the time of rabbits and miximatosis. He also was taught fencing by Professor Zaroff, who taught several of the Royal Family and could have been competing in the 1954 Olympics but as ever family came first for Brian, so he didn’t go.

Now let's talk about Brian and Joan’s family, Brian truly was a family man, always had his family in the forefront of his mind.

So, I would like to share now some stories of how the Kendrick family grew when firstly Neil came along then Ian and some happy times they had together.



The Chosen Baby

I'd been adopted at the age of five weeks old. Then a few years later I'd been given a green hardback book, to explain things.
Being young, I'd been more fascinated with the pictures, of course.
My Mother had gone through the words with me slowly, as she told me of a blonde-haired blue-eyed boy reaching out to his prospective new Mother with a smile.
And with a smile, she told me that'd been almost just the same as it was her and my Father, as they had gone to meet me and I had reached out, to them.


Wet Water

There had been a blue sky and a bright sun as we had walked down the golden sand of the Warren Beach, clean and empty as it was. The white-caps had been small, but the water cold and clean. Age about five, with wide brown eyes
Ian had run into the water and squealed at the cold, then laughed as he enticed my Mum in a one-piece swimsuit into the water.
I had followed her and tried to encourage my Dad into the water,
"I would," he had retorted, "but the water's too wet."

Kilroy Was Here

Little Grannie had died, which meant that Uncle Ken had little reason to visit England, other than seeing my Mum. He helped my folks with the fare to New Zealand and off my Mum and Dad went, on a journey that would leave me on my own, for twelve weeks.
“Are you sure you'll be alright?” I'd been asked, more than once before they had left.
“Of course,” I'd answered confidently.
Well, it had been the next day my Father's presence was felt.
I had picked up the phones receiver in the kitchen and found a small piece of card stuck to it, with double-sided tape.
On the card was a hand-drawn image in red of two googly-eyes within a half egg-shaped head, looking over a wall, with three fingers either side.,
Beneath the image of Kilroy, made famous during the second world war, my father had written, 'Don't stay on the phone too long'.
I had found another stuck to the phone in the backroom, with a similar message; and on the fridge and freezer, reminding me not to have the door open to long.
I'd laughed at that long and hard, thinking of my Father being my Father, over thousands of miles.

Thank you, Neil, for sharing those special times with us today.

Brian in his working life wasn’t always liked by his managers, he was so good at his trade as a model maker, who knows maybe he was a threat to them, he certainly knew his stuff, and got on with his work.
Port Sunlight village may never have become as it did, if it hadn't been for Brian’s skill at building his models. The picture we saw on Brian’s obituary and used in the local paper, was taken from him working on the model of Port Sunlight, he rebuilt from cremated ashes, then updated as required. It was only one of many models that Brian built for Lever Bros. over fifty odd years. The model of Port Sunlight village is still on exhibtion in the little Levers Mueseum model, He was very proud of his work as he should have been.

He loved antiques and his home is full of interesting items, that he himself has restored or rebuilt. Including a Tudor cabinet that takes pride of place in his lounge with a hidden tv cupboard, and you really cannot tell the original bits from the rebuilt bits that Brian had painstakingly done. He also built intricate model dinghy’s which he and the boys had fun sailing.

Today we also think of Joan who sadly passed away a few years ago, Brian missed her greatly. The love they had for each other never died.

Brian lived a long and happy life, so your sadness at this time is softened by gratitude for all that he was able to achieve and thankfulness that your lives were intermingled with his. Like many of his age, Brian faced his last days with dignity and quiet acceptance.

His life truly was a life well lived.

A life well lived is a precious gift
Of hope and strength and grace,
From someone who has made our world
A brighter, better place
It’s filled with moments, sweet and sad
With smiles and sometimes tears,
With friendships formed and good times shared
And laughter through the years.
A life well lived is a legacy
Of joy and pride and pleasure,
A living, lasting memory
Our grateful hearts will treasure

- Author Unknown



Let’s just pause now before our farewell to honour Brian’s life.



Our farewell to Brian
To everything there is a reason
A time for every purpose on earth
a time to be born and a time to die

Here in this last act

In sorrow but without fear with love and appreciation
We commit Brian to his natural end
Today and always may loving memories bring us peace comfort and strength.
Go peacefully now and find peace in eternity.

The Lords Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.


Thanks, and Closing Words

On behalf of Neil thank you for being here today, special thanks to Tony and Lucie without your help and friendship Neil wouldn’t be here.
Thank you to Jo and the staff at Alex Taylors for caring for Brian and your dignity today.

You are all welcome to join him for refreshments after this service at the family home.

Although we have said our farewell today to Brian This service is really only the beginning of your life without him. Which I am sure will never be the same. We have shared some of your memories today but perhaps remembering Brian is the easy part missing him is so much more difficult. All I can hope is that the love and strength he inspired in you will stay with you through your most difficult times.
This will be Brian’s way of looking after you, as he always did If you need him, he will be there, because the love we have for another never dies.

So as Brian himself would say, “Ni, Ni.”
As we leave him in peace.

Recessional Music Hurt Johnny Cash

Curtain will close here