Charlie & Alan
AMANDA JANE WAKELY ‘MANDY’ 1962-2017
The following two reflections on Mandy’s life were read by Reverend Canon Stephen Batty at her funeral on the 9th of April 2017.
By her children Paige, Robyn and Lloyd:
She was known to many people as Mandy but to us she was always Mum. Not only was she Mum, she was also our best friend. As
far as Mums go we got pretty lucky. Whether it was taking us to football or work, or picking us up from Weymouth at 4am she would
always be there. If she was on time or not was a different story. To carry on tradition all three of us went to Thorner's school as Mum
did. In fact most people know that she never really left. She had many roles at Thorner's be it a student, parent, fundraiser or
beloved member of staff. It always held a very special place in her heart.
For many children growing up in the middle of nowhere, we imagine summer holidays could have been slightly dull, but not us! Mum
was always just as excited for the summer holidays as we were. She was the only parent we ever heard wishing the holidays lasted
12 weeks instead of 6. We always loved our days out, especially the times Mum, Dad and Nan would take us to the amusements we
always knew as "Granny's". Still to this day we're not sure why. Mum was never much of a gambler, but she wouldn't think twice
about changing up a week's wages into 2p's just to get her hands on that last "Hello Kitty Keyring".
It was the simple things in life Mum loved the most. A day spent with her husband, children and parents couldn't have made her any
happier. She had many loves, animals being one. There wasn't any time in our childhood that we remember not having a household
pet. Dad unfortunately was allergic to cats, so this limited us to only having two at a time. Even as a Mum she never lost her
mischievous side. Everyone and everything had a nickname, whether it was a "Badger named Brian" or a sister named "DW". She
herself had the nick name "Bonzo", unfortunately for most there was no escape.
She always loved driving, especially her Discoveries. Although, to Dad’s despair, there would always be new scratches that she
wouldn't know anything about apart from that one time the hedge jumped out at her. Despite this she still managed to teach us all
how to drive and pass first time. Well 2 out of 3 ain’t bad!
For Mum family holidays were a must. She always said "I refuse to work hard all year without a holiday at the end of it" and we
couldn't have agreed more. Our holidays, however, always seemed to result in a scene from one of Mum’s favourite shows,
Benidorm. For starters Dad made sure we got to the airport 6 hours early so not to be at the back of the check-in queue. to this day
we've still never been seated together. This was merely a taster of what was to come. Some of our fondest memories are of being
on holiday be it Portugal, Canary Islands or Mum’s personal favourite Cyprus.
Cyprus is full of some of our best memories. Mum would always partake in what any country would have to offer be it drinking
cocktails, cheap fags, swimming, banana boats or learning the local language. Unsurprisingly she would never like to travel around
on a conventional mode of transport, camels, horses, quad bikes, tuk tuk's just to name a few. On one of our most recent holidays
she decided that Segways would be a good way to see the sights. This was a disaster waiting to happen. 5 people with no balance
what-so-ever was only going to end one way. Things got off to a shaky start when one of us crashed into a parked van and so the
tour was almost cut short. Mum, as she always did, took charge and led the group. Confidence began to grow quite quickly, certainly
in some more than others (Dad). Unfortunately this would be short lived as a steep slope and a busy cafe now stood in our way.
Nearly all at the top, we started to grind to a halt. Mum looked behind her to check we were all safe and sound. Unfortunately Dad
hadn't quite mastered reverse. The sight that followed was Dad being run over by his own Segway then chasing after it until it
crashed into a wall. Meanwhile, without warning, Mum tried to step off with too much force, sending the Segway straight into the tour
guide and the busy cafe, causing the chef to recook many dishes. Needless to say our deposits were not returned. Most people
grow out of family holidays with their parents but not us. There was nothing more we enjoyed than our yearly holidays and we’re sure
you can all see why.
If you were to ask Mum for her biggest achievement in life, she would have said her children. For us she couldn't have picked a better
thing to focus on. Her family really was her life. She was the most loving, caring and beautiful woman imaginable. She couldn't have
done any more for us. Even towards the end, when she became ill, she was always trying to look after us and make sure that we
were happy. She will be forever missed but will live on through her family.
We love you Mum and we'll see you again one day.
Paige, Robyn and Lloyd
By her sister Sandra:
Mandy was born at Bridgewater hospital on the 20th May 1962, the first-born child to Ray and Beryl Peach and the first grandchild to
arrive for the Peach and Gaines families. When Mandy was born she was baptised immediately as she was very poorly and not
expected to live but, because of her strength, courage and determination, she survived.
Mandy grew into a bright, healthy and very happy child. She loved being around her family, helping her mother and father. Mandy
particularly enjoyed spending time with her Auntie Janet and Uncle John and enjoyed going on holidays with them. In her later life
Mandy, Richard and the rest of the family would spend wonderful holidays with her Uncle Bob in Cyprus. Mandy spent many a good
time with her much loved Nanny Peach, Uncle Ivor and Auntie Gerry at their Melbury Osmond ‘Walnut Cottage’. Playing in the park,
using old push chairs to wheel her younger siblings and cousins Alison, Rachel and Rebeca down though the winding hills, then
back to Nanny Peach’s for a bath in front of the fire in a big copper tub. This would be finished off with a delicious piece of
homemade cake and a special seat in Nanny’s best lounge to stare in awe at (but not to touch) Grandad Peach’s great dome clock.
That beautiful dome clock never failed to amaze Mandy and the rest of us. We would all sit transfixed by the way it would sway and
rotate.
Mandy attended Thorner’s Primary School where she was a good student and loved her sports and art. She also attended the
village Sunday school which she very much loved. Older sister to Sandra and Andrew, (DW and Snorkey as she fondly called them),
she had nicknames for most of us, some of us not being aware, Snake, Tina Teaspoon and Phillip Pheasant just to name a few.
Sandra and Andrew always looked up to Mandy and she often put both of them in their places, but she was very protective of both of
them and they both loved her very much. Many good days as children were spent blackberry picking, searching for mushrooms and
paddling in the village stream on a warm summer’s afternoon looking to tickle the trout, provided that the silence wasn't broken by
the terrified screams coming from the mouths of Mandy and Sandra as their younger brother Andrew chased them down stream with
a bag of live eels (presumably that he had mischievously caught as his two older sisters had their backs turned). It wouldn't be
uncommon for days like these to be finished off with some scrumping. To all of you this is a term meaning to help yourself to
someone else's fruit, that’s if you are able to climb a tree or two. This was something Mandy prided herself in being the best at
although, if you asked her brother Andrew, he would be likely to disagree. Mandy brought much laughter and fun into our lives every
day, usually accompanied by cousins David, Stuart and Nicola and, of course, she was very fond of their father Uncle Roger.
Mandy grew into a beautiful and talented young woman. She then attended the Sir John Colfox School in Bridport. This was
something Mandy had little time for as she had more important things to attend to but, in between studying and giving the boys in her
year a good hiding, she managed to achieve many ‘O’ levels. She particularly shone in art and cookery. Mandy was a strong
character in mind and body. She was loyal and trustworthy. Tell her a secret and it would never be told. She was always ready to
back you up and support you in every way. Her mother was her best friend and her father was her hero. She always looked up to
them and loved us all.
Speaking of love, Richard, the first and only love of Mandy's life, loved Mandy from the first day they met. She loved him even
though he was always in trouble with Mandy, always taking the blame for everything even if he was not there, but Richard took it in
his stride. Mandy’s greatest success was her three beautiful children Lloyd, Robyn and Paige. She was so proud of them all and, in
later years, granddaughter Isla, first born child to Lloyd and Leonine. What more can any of us ask for? They were her life and her
world, she needed no more.
Now our love, sorry you had to leave so soon. Please don't wait, just be waiting when we come to look for you. For now go on as
we will follow, but just not yet. Shine your light and we will find you. On earth there was no tree too tall for you to climb, no river to
wide for you to cross.no flame too dim to burn for you, go on.
Sandra
RAY PEACH 1941-2020
Eulogy given by Bob Peach 10
th
February 2020:
As Ray's brother, I recognised three big aspects of Ray:
First - Ray the family man
Family was all and everything to Ray.
His family came first. He loved being in a family; his parents' family, Beryl's family and his own close, Litton Cheney, family.
Second - Ray the Dorset man
Ray the rural man. In all his years he never lived in a town. He lived almost all his life in this part of Dorset. Like a stick of rock,
Ray had "Dorset" running through him.
Third - Ray's skills and personality
He could turn his hand to anything and, goodness knows, he was a personality. That saintly smile. His skills with kids – I know
my three children so loved their Uncle Raymond - he was full of clever “nonsense”.
Ray was born in Melbury Osmond, just a dozen miles from here, the third child of Bert and Kath Peach. He had a brother Ivor and
sister Janet.
In the first five years of his life a million Americans left the south of England bound for the Continent. Many were based in and
around Melbury Osmond and Melbury Park. His smiles gained him a lot of American cookies and candy.
I was born when Ray was four, a home birth. When the midwife announced my arrival Ray expressed his disappointment by
saying "I wanted a Jeep".
Dad and school
Our dad, Bert, was well known in the area. He was a carpenter; a sawsmith and mender of watches and clocks. Of the four of us
Ray was the only one to inherit Bert's ability to make and mend things. Dad was a hero to Ray. They even looked alike.
Initially Ray attended the village school in Melbury then, at age 11, moved on to the school in Evershot.
After a spell working on a farm Ray was apprenticed as a welder in far off Sherborne. This was his introduction to motor bikes.
So many motorcycle stories could be told! Late one night a police car arrived at our house. Minutes afterwards Ray arrived,
freewheeling his motor bike, no engine noise. The police knocked on the door; Mother was raised from her bed.
She was less than amused at the policeman even suggesting that Ray had been riding a motor-cycle, no L-plates, lights missing,
not taxed and not in a road-worthy condition. She told the police Ray was in bed, wrapped up and warm, she had no intention to
wake him. He had been there for hours. The police left.
He was indeed in bed, still wearing a large coat and a crash helmet, but he was in bed. I was watching from the next bed,
amazed. He had got away with things again! He smiled at me, pulled his goggles down over his eyes and pretended to go to
sleep.
The marriage
At age 20 Ray married Miss Beryl Gaines, from the village of Aller, Langport, Somerset.
Beryl - the love of his life. After a short courtship Ray and Beryl were married and stayed together for 59 years. Mum and Dad
came to love Beryl a lot - she was welcomed into their family. This was ultra-important to Ray - Family again.
Of course Ray also joined the Gaines family and stayed close to them to his end. Apart from her parents, Beryl had nine siblings.
Many a story can be told of Raymond and the Gaines family - especially with Roger who moved to Dorset to be near his sister.
Ray and Roger once rather famously got lost at sea - but that's a story for another time.
The wedding
The wedding reception was in a public house in Langport. My memory includes the landlord drinking more than all the guest put
together. He did a drunken monologue - all about Gran's yellow hat and how, in his opinion, she thought she was the Queen
Mother. Dear Gran was not amused, but Ray had his arm around her saying, "don't listen to him Gran - it's a lovely, lovely hat".
Ray always had a way with the ladies. All was well. It was a very memorable wedding.
The first child
Then the arrival of Miss Mandy Peach – the first grandchild on either side of the family. What an event - four dotting grandparents
and twelve aunts and uncles. Mandy was not too well when she arrived and whole family held their breath for several days until
finally the all-clear was sounded. Ray was the proudest and happiest dad.
Litton Cheney
After a while of living and working in Aller, Ray joined his brother, Ivor, working as an artificial inseminator for the Milk Marketing
Board. Ray was based in Bridport; Ivor was at the main centre in Sturminster Newton.
Some good fortune smiled on Ray when he met Major Golding, a farmer in Litton. The major offered some part-time work together
with a house Ray and his family could rent. Ray, Beryl and Mandy moved into School Lane, Litton Cheney, in 1964. Mandy
eventually being joined by Sandra and Andrew. Later they bought the house from the Major.
Ray and his family lived there for 56 years, raising a family in that happy house.
Of course things didn't stop there and over the years Ray's family grew by the addition of two husbands, a wife, eight
grandchildren and a great grandchild. Ray and his family in beautiful Dorset. It's impossible to say how much he loved his
children and their children. He loved being Dad, Gups and Granddad.
Dorset
I said at the start how much Dorset featured in Ray's life. I wonder if there's anyone who knows this neck of the woods better than
Ray. His exploits on his motor-cycles in his bachelor days. His many years with the MMB driving up every farm track. His days
driving a cattle lorry for South-West Farmers (again working with his brother Ivor). His years with his news-agent business,
delivering papers all over this part of Dorset, often ably assisted his own children and nephews David and Stuart. Ray the Pied
Piper. Happy memories.
He spent many years at Bagwell Farm where his ability to do a multitude of tasks made him a holiday park celebrity - many of the
regular visitors were charmed by Ray's good humour and his ability to fix anything. The children loved visiting the petting farm
with him, marvelling at the donkeys and highland cattle - Ray the Pied Piper again. Added to this he still had his entrepreneurial
exploits dehorning, branding, welding and the heating/boiler trade.
My memories of Ray in Dorset
A battered Land-Rover, Percy the Jack Russell acting as navigator, arm out the window, a cigarette on the go. Ray about as
happy as a man can be.
Yes - every nook and cranny of this end of Dorset has seen Raymond Peach and all Ray's roads led to Litton Cheney, to his
home, to his family.
How appropriate that we are gathered here today in Litton where Ray loved to be.
His final resting place, close to Mandy, both of them together in peace.
IN MEMORIAM - CONTEMPORARY
Select Name
ABOUT LITTON CHENEY
Photo by Claire Moore 3_7_2021
Charlie & Alan
NICHOLAS PETER HORSLEY ‘NICK’ 1957-2020
A TRIBUTE TO NICK HORSLEY - Given by Alicen Dines, Celebrant, at his Cremation Service on 4 June, 2020
Nick came into the world two days early, perfectly healthy but classed as premature by the
doctor because he weighed in at just 4lbs and 9oz. He took after his mum Jean and it was his
sister Gillian who, apparently, got the height. Fast forward many years, when Nick shook hands
with Prince Charles who visited the farm he was working on, he noticed that Prince Charles
wasn’t very tall either. They both took after their mums!
Family was always very important to Nick. He was a caring son to Jean and Peter, and a
brother to Stuart and Gillian. When Nick was almost 3 years old, he became a big brother to
Stuart in 1960 and then to Gillian in 1964. The family moved to Middle Farm in Long Bredy in
1971. Nick and Stuart went to Colfox and Gillian went to Thorners' school in Litton Cheney.
Years passed and they all left school and got jobs. Nick of course chose farming.
Later
on,
Stuart
married
Helen
and
Gillian
married
Gus.
Nick
became
an
uncle
to
Robert,
followed
by
Lee,
Kevin,
Lloyd
and
Aaron.
Nick
insisted
that
they
only
ever
call
him
Nick.
When
Nathan
and
Chloe
got
together
and
had
Sam,
Nick
didn't
feel
that
it
was
right
for
him
to
assume
the
title
of
grandad
as
Sam
wasn't
a
blood
relative.
He
said
that
Sam
could
choose
what
he
wanted
to
call
him.
From
somewhere,
Sam
chose
the
name
"NeeNee".
It
caused
many
a
chuckle
when
Sam
shouted
it
out.
Nick
was
a
fun
grandad
-
always
up
for
playing
with
Lego,
hide
and
seek,
football
–
whatever
Sam
wanted
to
do.
All
of
Nick’s
family
had
a
huge
place
in
his heart.
Nick had always wanted to farm from a young age. He loved his work. When he and brother Stuart got together, it was farming talk
non-stop. As boys they used to squabble a bit, and his Mum Jean’s approach was to smack them both, so she always knew she’d
got the right one that way! That was all forgotten as adults; they were good friends.
Nick had a great bond with animals, especially the cows that he worked with. He took a lot of care with them and some would wait
around for him to pat them. He was careful too with the farm machinery, treating everything as if it were his own. The times he was
most visibly upset was when they lost an animal on the farm, or when there was an accident. There were two accidents in quick
succession at one farm he was working at. On separate occasions a lorry drove into a tractor pulling a trailer, and then a machine
that Nick was driving. A workmate and a lorry driver were killed and, naturally, Nick was extremely upset.
He loved all animals, including their pets but when Jackie moved in, he drew the line at six cats so they agreed on two – plus two
guinea pigs. She says he used to pretend he wasn’t as soft-hearted as he was but it was obvious because he couldn’t watch any
TV programme that showed animal cruelty – especially Paul O’Grady’s show about rescue dogs.
Aged 49, Fate decided that Nick would not be single and ‘married to his work’ (as he used to say) anymore. The day Jackie
popped into The White Horse turned out to be a special day for them both. Jean remembers that, true to his character, Nick kept
very quiet about meeting Jackie. Jean remembers he never said a lot, even when he was feeling ill. She asked him directly one
day whose bike was in the garage. It was ‘a friend’s’, he said.
Nick and Jackie were married two years later at Mountfield and have been happily married ever since.
Nick enjoyed life at a steady pace, being in the moment, not worrying about the past or the future. He disliked conflict and
confrontation: he wanted to get on with everyone. And he did. He was well-liked and had lots of friends – all of whom were
important to him. He treated everyone as he would like to be treated himself. He was cheerful and had a good sense of humour.
He wasn’t one for many possessions: his one pride and joy was his Lotus Elise. He worked up from owning a moped to a mini, to a
sporty Ford Fiesta but the Elise was the peak. And of course, he was passionate about driving a tractor – preferably a John Deere.
He and Jackie have had some great road trips, including their honeymoon to Norfolk. A highlight of that trip was a tour of the Lotus
Elise factory, which Jackie arranged for Nick’s birthday and which he really loved. Nick was always a home-bird as far as taking
holidays were concerned. He always thought that there were loads of places to visit in this country without going abroad, and he
always maintained that he would never step foot on an aeroplane. Then he suddenly realised that he could actually leave the
country by way of a cruise, and that was the awakening of his adventurous streak. For his 60th birthday in 2017, he decided that
he quite fancied a trip to Norway with P&O. He and Jackie sailed on the Arcadia and Nick was like an overgrown child - so excited
about the whole experience.
They had a balcony cabin and one morning he got up at and went out on the balcony, then came rushing back in to wake Jackie up
to see the stunning scenery. It was 3 o'clock in the morning. She is so glad now that she had the opportunity to visit Norway with
him, as it went on to be a favourite topic of conversation. They took a second trip in February last year, going right up into the Arctic
Circle.
Lots of happy memories were made, especially on the first cruise as Nick was so eager to grab every opportunity to see whatever
they could and make the most of every moment. Jackie almost had to drag him off the ship when they docked in Southampton. It
was certainly money well spent!
Nick was very interested in history and he shared his knowledge and passion with Jackie. They both enjoyed holidays and trips
visiting castles and museums. In exchange, Jackie shared her love of music with Nick, expanding his horizons quite a bit. He was
a Suzi Quatro and Status Quo fan but, in general, he wasn’t keen on loud music in the house. Jackie would turn up the volume a
bit when he was out at work.
As a reserved kind of man, Nick didn’t like having his photo taken and hated being the centre of
attention - so birthdays and Christmas weren’t his favourites. He put the emphasis on other
people, to whom he was very caring and generous-hearted. I’m sure everyone can remember
something kind he did for them. He bought Nathan his first mopeds and it was his instinct to
make sure that everyone was ok – right up to the last. He showed Jackie all the practical things
she needed to know in the house. He only gave her one instruction for the future, just a joke
really: don’t spend too much money!
Most people have been shocked at the speed of Nick’s illness and death. He was very well
looked after at the Fortuneswell Unit in Dorchester County Hospital. Nick took the time to tell all
his friends individually about his illness.
His passing reminds us that we can’t take anything for granted in life, and that we need to
treasure our time with family and friends. The family has found it very touching to know that
Nick meant so much to so many people. It says so much about what a caring nature he had,
and how he drew so many people to him.
He will be sadly missed by Jackie, his mum, the wider family, his many friends and workmates
over the years and the White Horse family. There will be a special gathering at the pub in his
honour as soon as restrictions are lifted – a welcome opportunity to raise a glass to him.
Heaven for Nick would definitely mean being out on the land, on a tractor and, maybe, if there’s
a good pint of cider and a meet up with his Dad and Jackie’s Dad too, that would be perfect.
PARISH COUNCIL
ABOUT LITTON CHENEY
VILLAGE FACILITIES
LOCAL SERVICES
VILLAGE INFORMATION
HUGH THOMAS 1946-2018
The following eulogy was read at Hugh’s funeral on the 16
th
of November 2018:
Firstly, Margaret and Family have asked me to say “thank you” to all of you for coming here today to pay your respects and say
farewell to Hugh. Thank you too for all the cards and expressions of condolence.
In turn, I would like to thank them for the privilege of being able to say these few words about the man we all knew and admired so
much.
Hugh, together with his twin brother Gareth, was born in May 1946 in the Welsh
town of Neath. His father Cyril was a bus driver. He had a sister, Margaret, and
two brothers, Keith and Richard..
Hugh met his wife to be Margaret in 1969 and they were married in 1970. Their
son Gavin, now a consultant in respiratory medicine, was born in 1972 and their
daughter, Angharad, now a school teacher at St Catherines in Bridport, in 1974.
Hugh was a very private man, not one for a night out with the boys playing skittles
or darts although he did enjoy a pint or two with his close friends. However, his
two overwhelming passions were his family and his work. He was immensely
proud of his two grand-sons, Evan and Ivor and his grand-daughter Farah.
After attending Neath Grammer School he started work with Neath Borough
Council as a rent collector.
In 1969 he joined the South Wales Police and, entirely on merit, rapidly rose to the
rank of constable! He transferred to the Dorset Police Force at Poole in 1974. Subsequently he gained valuable experience in a
number of roles in Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Lyme Regis, Bournemouth and Weymouth. For several years he was Inspector-in-
Charge at Bridport.
He was very fond of travelling especially his wine tasting trips to France and
Spain.
He took a great interest in sport, especially Welsh rugby and Swansea City
football club. For some years he shared an interest in several national hunt
racehorses and was overjoyed when one of them, Philson Run, won the Midlands
Grand National and finished fourth in the Aintree version.
Hugh had been unwell for some time but it came as an enormous shock to all of
us at his sudden demise. He was a great lover of the works of Dylan Thomas.
Apparently, towards the end, in the words or that great poet, he “raged, raged
against the dying of the light” but eventually he “went gentle into that good night”.
So, as we say “farewell” to Hugh for one last time, I’m sure many of you share
similar happy memories not only of his sense of humour but his kindness,
thoughtfulness and undeniable generosity. I’m sure he would not want us ‘lovely
boys’ to mourn his passing but to give thanks for his life and work whilst expressing our
condolences to Margaret and the family.
Goodbye my old friend, you will be sadly missed but never forgotten.
David Hearn 16.11.2018
Hugh and Gareth
