FAMILY TRIBUTES

EULOGY – AT CHURCH

Wonderful words Nev, captured everything so beautifully for the best dad ever!

I would just like to add to that and say a few words from a slightly different perspective.

I’ll be relating more personal experiences with dad later this afternoon at the golf club but would just like to relive a key and precious family experience with mum and dad whilst growing up… a typical weekend when all 4 of us were still living at home, 1977 was the year! What a year, the silver jubilee and the best street parties ever, iconic movies Star Wars and Saturday Night Fever hit the big screen, Virginia Wade and Bjorn Borg won Wimbledon, Roots came out on telly and Jimmy Carter was sworn in as the 39th US president but I just want to reminiscence on an average, bog standard weekend at De Lord HQ, the family home, just around the corner from here in Fairfield Avenue that year…

Mum and dad gave us the best family life any child could ask for. We weren’t showered with material things, far from it, they were strict (well mum was!) but what we did have was pure love and support from both which we adored and we have all learnt from.

In 77, I was, coincidentally, seven… dad used to return home from that place he called the ‘office’, a 45 minute journey down the dark and dinghy northern line bank branch to a place called Angel, Rosebery Avenue to be more precise. Friday evenings 6pm was my most favourite time of the week (well, in fact, they still are, but for different reasons!)… no homework, jump in the bath, kermit the frog green pjs on (not now of course, I’m talking about then!). Dad walked in the door suited and booted carrying his black real leather designer briefcase from wembley market… yes, the magic briefcase that no-one was allowed to touch… all we knew, it was definitely magic as the contents of it more or less supported the family week on week.

Anyway, as the older folk here will remember, there were only 3 tv channels in those days… bbc1, bbc2 and itv… but it wasn’t known as itv in those days, it was the mundane Thames Television during the week (reminding us of school and homework), and then suddenly at 7pm, like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, London Weekend Television otherwise known as LWT appeared, vibrant colours, catchy tune… boom, it was the weekend, let’s party… with a cream soda!! I’ll explain what that was to the youngsters later but basically, it was like a very posh lemonade I think.

The whole family used to gather in the living room, me sitting on the floor (as the sofa only had 5 seats) in time for LWT News which was a bit of a yawnfest when you’re 7 but dad loved the news… thank goodness Sky News wasn’t around in 1977.

However, 7.15pm and that infamous tune came on, we still remember those drums (and Jivebunny making a killing from it 20 years later)… our favourite show Hawaii 5 0. Now, dad always fancied himself as a bit of a Steve McGarrett, maybe it was something to do with his real name being similar to his, Jack Lord… but he always re-enacted the infamous Steve McGarrett / Jack Lord swivel from the opening credits… life was so much simpler in those days so we had to make our own fun… come on, it was the weekend after all!! 50 minutes in, all of us waiting with bated breath, we finally got to hear the famous line that featured in every episode… bit like the “Whatcha talking about Willis” in Different Strokes… this was when the Hawaiian baddie had been caught and those words came out… “Book Him Danno!”. Dad loved it… as much as he loved Hawaii, after all he went there 7 times, thanks to mum!!

The weekend didn’t stop there… most Saturday afternoons and evenings were spent packing a massive picnic and making the 20 minute trek to Kenwood in Hampstead Garden Suburb. We used to park up in Bishops Avenue, yes THE Bishops Avenue (you could in those days), the 4 of us dreaming of living in a house that big, bit like Delboy and Rodney from dad’s favourite comedy. Instead we had to cart picnic blankets, cooler bags and every bat and ball we owned out of the back of a Renault 12 Estate (not from a 3 wheel van thank goodness!) into Kenwood and strategically plotted up on a hill near enough to where we could hear the live music that evening for free. We never saw any of the wonderful performers or the stunning lake but boy, did we enjoy playing football, cricket and rounders whilst experiencing the classical and most especially Big Band sounds.

Now, dad loved Big Band music… from Sinatra to Dean Martin, Ella to Nat King Cole… he loved them all! You’ll be hearing his Spotify playlist this afternoon and evening at the golf club… yes, all 8 hours of it!! He compiled the list for their 50th wedding anniversary celebrations and has played it ever since over the last 15 years through his Alexa, whilst never quite getting to grips with the Alexa technology, calling it Alyssa for some unknown reason… and it never responding to him! His love for music was infectious and we’ve inherited those traits by listening to these timeless classics and especially ‘name that tune’ quizzes aplenty at Christmastime.

Finally, LWT coverage used to come to an end with a ‘treat’ once or twice a month… yes, “we’re going to Mickdonalds” used to bellow from the rooftops 6pm on a Sunday night (there were no Sky games in those days so I was pretty free)… not every Sunday night mind you as the less attractive alternative was the Wimpy in Edgware. However, for us, McDonalds in Golders Green was the Vegas of burger joints in comparison to the Wimpy… Maccy D’s the Mayfair to the Wimpy’s Old Kent Road… maybe we were just consumed by all the Big Mac adverts LWT shoved down our throats the previous 48 hours!

Either way, fab memories of a wonderful childhood. 

So thank you dad, thank you mum, you’ve been THE most perfect parents to us all.

I’ll leave you with these words that dad used to say to us growing up:

Life is all about family, friends, love, encouragement and challenges. 

Don’t ever give up trying. 

Believe in yourself and trust in others for support. 

Cherish and embrace every moment of life.

You sure did dad, thank you for everything… you were the best and your spirit still lives within and amongst us! Thank you for listening…

FOLLOWING FAMILY TRIBUTE & NOTICES – AT CHURCH

Beautiful sentiments by dad there, not the usual words we’d hear from dad as I wouldn’t exactly call him a romantic, but that just proves how special he was… we actually read it out with all of us around his bed on his last day, it was emotional… 

78 years previous to him writing that, dad, a spritely 16 year old had just left the Majestic picturehouse in Stonetown after seeing what turned out to be his favourite Christmas movie ever… “It’s A Wonderful Life”. He went home and wrote a letter to the James Stewart’s wife in the film Mary, Hollywood actress Donna Reid, declaring his love for her! Sadly for dad, Donna didn’t reply, dad was heartbroken! But I really think she just didn’t fancy the move from Beverley Hills to Zanzibar!!

Anyway, dad had to focus his attentions elsewhere, and on Miss Zanzibar, my mum!! Well, that was actually after he had gone out with mum’s older sister Zita… who went on to become a nun… so make of that what you will!!

Well, like Clarence the Angel in the movie, dad has now most certainly got his wings!!

Right, on to the notices…

On behalf of the family, we would like to express our utmost gratitude to Fr Robert for celebrating this Requiem Mass, to our wonderful organist Monica who has played the music dad loved with all his favourite tunes, Quincy Jones who sadly passed in the same week as dad would’ve been so proud, two legends taken from us. And to everyone who kindly participated in this beautiful service especially Michael our fantastic singer and also to our three altar servers.

We would also like to thank each and every one of you for being here including those around the world on livestream… good morning to Canada and also to America, the morning after the Thanksgiving night before… good night Australia and also to New Zealand after a torrid day in the Test Match for you guys which will bring a smile to dad’s face, thank you for staying up for us! And for all your love, support, prayers, comfort and kind words at this time.

Whilst the immediate family are at the short private committal service at Hendon, you are all warmly invited to join us at Hendon Golf Club for refreshments and to share the many memories in a celebration of dad’s life. We have loads going on there, music, photos, tributes, memorabilia and food so please do come and enjoy with us. As you know, today is Black Friday but we’ll be making it far from black as dad would’ve wanted! The sun is shining and with Advent on the horizon this weekend, a season that dad loved, it provides a time of hope for everyone!

If anyone needs a ride to the golf club or can offer a lift to one or two, please hang around the back of the church and look out for two strapping lads and a wee lass who go by the names of Bernie, Johnjo and Lilian… they will match you up with those who have offered lifts.

Now, SVP have come up a lot today so should you wish to make a donation in dad’s memory, he requested support for this charity closest to his heart visiting the sick, the lonely, the addicted, the imprisoned and those suffering from disabilities.

I have seen the fantastic work they do right here in this parish and how they transform lives, none more so than Jo and Julie who many of you know. Julie, sitting just there, said to me last week that she would’ve been on the streets without dad and the SVP, right Julie? That may sound a bit extreme but she would have never have met her friend Jo if it wasn’t for their good work, enhancing their lives with life changing experiences, visits and days out. So SVP’s efforts and funds are channelled in all the right areas and make a massive difference believe me!

Dad was a devoted member here right up until his last meeting with SVP as Treasurer on Friday 18th October, just a few days before he was admitted into hospital.

You’ll find the link towards the back of the Order Of Service where you can donate, leave tributes and even add photos… many thanks to all of you who have already contributed in each of those ways, it is very much appreciated!

See you all soon! Thank you…

PERSONAL MEMORIES – AT RECEPTION

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the celebration of the life of my dad, Joe De Lord… and it is a celebration as he loved life so much and lived it to the fullest as we all know. Dad would’ve loved to be present here today, mingling, chatting and enjoying with all of us.

I know you’ve probably heard enough of me today but let me tell you a few MORE things about my dad… 

Dad was my best mate, my hero… we shared so many close experiences and times together, far too many to mention here but I’m just going to share a few key ones that will live in my memory forever.

In April 1982, dad bought a new car, a brand new motor, a Ford Escort 1.1L in gleaming white XLP 80X… we thought it was amazing, the bees knees, even though it wasn’t an XR3 with a proper spolier! So when dad mentioned to me about going on a road trip to “run it in”, I was well up for it… well more, the road trip rather the running it in bit as I didn’t even know what it meant (and still don’t). I’ll let my big bruv Nev, cousin Cliff or the slightly older folk in the room fill you in if you are none the wiser. Anyway, as a 12 year old and just winding down on my first year at secondary school Orange Hill, what would knocking off on a Thursday afternoon and chucking in May Day bank holiday into the mix matter to our wily old headmistress Miss Fenner (yes, Keith remembers her with glee!).

So off we went, early on a Friday morning, just dad and I, destination Penzance… the furthest place you could go on this earth! Well over 300 miles away, no sat navs, no mobile phones, nada! However, what this Ford Escort came fitted with was a radio cassette player, oh yes! Armed with a load of Sakura tapes from Burnt Oak market pre-loaded with the Top 40 from the Sundays before, minus the Tony Blackburn cheesy chat ruining things!! Dad in the driving seat, me in the passenger seat co-pilot styley, windows down, the wind blowing in our hair… the slow grim journey to the motorway via the Target Roundabout and Hayes before the by-pass seemed to last an age… then suddenly like a beacon of light, out of nowhere Heathrow Airport appeared and the M4… time to put our foot down and cruise down to Cornwall for some sun, sea and cream soda (oh yes that again)!! Slip road Junction 4, inside lane, open road, wallop, let’s go!! “Dad, can you not go any faster?” I innocently asked. “No son” he replied, “We can’t do any more than 60 miles an hour, we have to run the car in for the first thousand miles”. I didn’t even know what that meant (and still don’t) but I thought to myself, great road trip this, we’re gonna spend the whole weekend on the road!! But then my secondary school maths came to the fore and 60 miles an hour into 300… 5 hours, give or take, I’ll take that!

9 hours later, we arrived in Penzance, 9 hours!! I can’t remember a lot else about that weekend… or the journey home… but all I know is that due to my Sakura tape being chewed up in the lousy cassette player, we were subjected to Centerfold by the J Geils Band 8 times on Radio 1 on that journey (it actually became quite an anthem) and how I wished this trip had’ve been in 1984… at least The Boys Of Summer would’ve been released!!

Oh and just to rub salt into the wounds on this trip, Miss Fenner hit dad with a letter – not the kind of letter that dad wrote to Donna Reid I mentioned in the church earlier – no, this a warning letter for taking me out of school on that Friday without permission.

Dad was distraught… and never did it again! 

Ok, let’s fast forward now to 1995… I’ll keep this brief but just let me set the scene, Saturday 18th February, FA Cup 5th Round weekend, the draw took place 3 weeks previous and after getting through a replay on pens to Premier League Sheffield Wednesday… the visitors to town were the famous Leicester City so Wolves vs Leicester, West meets East, me vs dad, let’s do this!! So another road trip, a different car, an upgrade to a Rover which needed no running in (I still don’t understand why!) but still no mobile and no VAR I’m happy to say… the good ole days, eh? Dad in the driving seat, me in the passenger seat… both trying to recreate that vibe from 13 years previous, the cd player pumped to the max!

Arrived Wolverhampton 1pm, the usual pork roll in the Pork Joint washed down with a couple of pre-match pints in the Varsity with his mate Paul and my mate MattyEccs… off we tootled to the Golden Palace and the infamous South Bank, dad having to sit on his hands being an ‘away’ fan in the home end!

A tense and memorable game ensued resulting in a narrow 1 nil victory with ex-Foxes striker David ‘Ned’ Kelly leaping like a salmon at the far post, as he was his trademark, to fire Wolves into the Quarter-Finals… me delighted and dad distraught again… but at least no letter from Miss Fenner on this occasion!!

Precious father and son times… I really only bring up that game as 8 years later, newly-promoted Premier League Wolves welcomed Leicester to Molineux. The customary pre-match routine occurred followed by a quickfire Sir Les Ferdinand brace for Leicester on their way to a 3 – 0 lead at the break. Me distraught this time, dad exuberant… but it ain’t over til it’s over right? Just after the interval, we hit back and then again and then again… 3 3 going into the last 5 minutes of the game and boom… Henri Camara (the one season wonder) with an absolute worldie… Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 Leicester City 3, cue mayhem, Tom Hark and mass exuberance from me, poor dad distraught. A great M6 / M1 ride all the way home… a tipsy me signing “3 nil and you messed it up!” (or words to that effect!).

BUT roll on 13 years later… 2016, dad finally got his comeuppance… not particularly on me but on the whole of the footballing fraternity… and most especially Tottenham Hotspur… sorry Hoops!!

Spring had well and truly sprung and there was a new battle on the horizon… not the usual Man City Liverpool Arsenal battle of the big boys, no this was a whole new ball game… this was Leicester City against Tottenham Hotspur going toe to toe, another family feud ensued, dad vs Neville. That was until Eden Hazard’s wonderstrike ruined the Spurs party and Jamie Vardy’s house became Ritzys of Filbert Street when the Foxes sealed the Premier League title for the first time in their history!! Yes wow, unreal… but dad, why didn’t you have a cheeky quid on it at the start of season @ 5000/1 !! We’d be millionaires… well, not quite!!

Anyway, to his delight, one of our clients at work fortunately had an all singing and all dancing executive box at the King Power and invited dad, at the grand old age of 86, and I as VIP guests to see their final home game and Wes Morgan lift the trophy… what an absolutely amazing experience, from relegation favourites to champions elect. That day we experienced haute cuisine, fine wines and singha lager much to delight of dad… and not a prawn sarnie in sight!

As there was no way jose that I was driving home that night, we’d booked into the King Power stadium hotel and mingled with the players in the bar after, before they headed to their more elite celebratory venue… which sadly we weren’t invited to!! Can’t have it all I guess. Dad and I shared a double bed that night and relived the whole day snore for snore!

To cap this jubilant occasion off, the next morning after two well-earned full Englishes, we embarked on another little road trip up to Loughborough to relive dad’s youth from 65 years previous. Dad studied Civil Engineering at Loughborough Uni and we did a trip down memory lane visiting the colleges, the hockey pitches dad used to play on (a little bit different to those in 1951) and the digs he used to stay in. He shared stories of his uni days from freshers week to night outs… of which I obviously did not reciprocate about my uni days!!! One such story was of him and his brother Bernie meeting up in Leicester where Bernie was studying and where they used to frequent the famous nightclub, Ritzys of Filbert Street… what went around, came around again eh?? But there was no Jamie Vardy… he was a mere twinkle in his father’s eye, well actually it must have been his grandfather… anyway, you know what I mean!! Just to rub it in… all the way down the M1, me in the driving seat, dad in the passenger seat this time, dad quietly whispered to me “Champions of England, you’ll never sing that!!” He most definitely got his comeuppance… God bless him!

Not only that but a matter of only 5 years later, in 2021, Leicester won the FA Cup or the Covid Cup as it was known. Sadly dad was not mobile enough to join us on this occasion but Nev, Jamie, Vince and I were at Wembley in the Leicester end to see them overcome Chelsea (the team that indirectly won them league 5 years previous) with an absolute stunner from Youri Tielemans. Yet another achievement on dad’s football supporting CV. I’m not even going to start on his love for his no1 sport, cricket… that’s most definitely for another day!

Right, I’m going to wrap this up now you’ll be glad to hear but before I do, I would just like to mention the final father and son time I had with dad… and it was precious, THE most precious. It was the early hours of Sunday morning 27th October, the day before he passed… I had kipped in a chair by his side at Barnet Hospital with him waking during the night shouting “Oh, you’re here… “ every hour in the quiet ward followed by “Shhhhh… “ from the other patients. Come the morning, we watched a stream of Fr Jim’s 8.30 mass live from Bushey High St on my tablet followed by a rerun of one of dad’s favourite shows Columbo and MOTD from the previous day… our final Match of The Day together!! Sadly Leicester had lost to East Midlands rivals Forest that weekend but Wolves had come from 2 down to bag 2 in stoppage time… cue mass celebrations and ‘limbs’ in the away end. Dad looked at me with a wry smile as if to say… “ 2 nil and they messed it up!” or words to that effect!

And there I leave it folks… to my dad, my best mate, my hero… let’s raise the biggest glass to him up there… it’s actually a shame he was a Leicester fan as he was definitely no sly Fox… he really should’ve been a Southampton fan cos he was an absolute Saint! But he would be far from the bottom of the league… oh no, this Saint will Go Marching In, straight to heaven.

Dad see you on my sofa Sunday 22nd December at 2pm, Leicester Wolves live on my firestick from the King Power with your new Ruud boy at the wheel (and you in the passenger seat, from above)… I’ll just be getting in from my Christmas Do at Henley Spoons (another place that you loved!) and will have your customary half-pint of non-alcoholic lager top poured out waiting for you.

May the best team win and more importantly… may you rest in peace!

Cheers

MY WAY KEY LYRICS

I've lived a life that's full

I've travelled each and every highway

and more, much more than this

I did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed, and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now, as tears subside

I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way

"Oh no, oh no, not me

I did it my way"

The record shows I took the blows

And did it my way

Cue the video live from Madison Square Gardens…

TRIBUTE FROM GIANNI & THE FRASCA FAMILY 

IN DUBROVNIK

First of all, I must express my regret that none of my family are able to be present at today’s funeral of dear Joe.

What is certain is that of all the people I have met in my life, no-one has made such a strong and big impression as Joe. And our acquaintance began quite by chance.

It was 2010, my wife Marijana and I were running a travel agency at the time. Joe sent an email in which he was interested in excursions from Dubrovnik as well as a transfer from the airport to the apartment where the De Lords were staying. Marijana immediately responded to the first email she received from him and Joe was delighted with the speed of the response. After a few more exchanged emails, he decided to book the transfer and excursions through our small agency. 

I was the driver of the van that met the De Lords at the airport and drove them to Medjugorje and Montenegro. I'll never forget how we sat in a bar in Kotor while the rest walked the city and how he told me about his life in Africa. And how I misunderstood that his lovely wife Genny was from Uganda ☺

That was the beginning of a truly wonderful and solid friendship.

What is never forgotten in life: trust and honesty. It is rare that a person will entrust a stay in his house without himself being present in it. 

Genny and Joe did it. They would go to Eastbourne, and my son Toni, Marijana and I stayed in their house for a few days. Several times. That's real trust and love.

Joe was a big man. To Marijana, Toni, Mario and me. A man from whom you can learn many things and a man with a positive attitude. 

Even today I can say that if there are angels on Earth, then they are Genny and Joe. I really think so. I just can't believe that the next time I come to London he won't be there.=

Dear Joe, you are not leaving us today, you will live as long as our hearts beat. 

Gianni Frasca and family x