Tim’s Eulogy given by John Welsh at Tim’s Funeral Service on 2nd January 2014

The party started when Tim arrived. It went on until Tim left. Fortunately Tim was always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

He was born on 25th August 1964 a son to proud parents, Angus and Pat, and a brother for big sister Kay. He terrorised Chester-le-Street from Lyndhurst Avenue to Park View School. Emily proudly told me that he was a bit of a troublemaker at school –so it wasn’t just something that he picked up in later life!

Tim’s first job was at the Jingling gate at West Pelton often working until three in the morning. He had the first of his many misadventures on the way home early one morning. He got a lift in a friend’s sports car and ended up with a fence pole through his shoulder when the car left the road –that might explain one or two of his more unusual squash shots.

Tim was part of a large circle of friends and remained so all of his life. He owned a Mini which was the charabanc for group outings. It became famous (at least among Tim’s circle of friends) for ‘How many people can you fit into a Mini’, on one occasion, 13 people made the trip although I haven’t heard the end of the story and don’t know how many came back.

Tim left home to marry Pauline in 1989 (Sue of course was Pauline’s bridesmaid –but if you don’t know that story then you probably shouldn’t be here). Sadly, things didn’t go according to plan but the really good thing that came out of the marriage was the birth of Emily on May 21st 1991 and of Thomas on November 9th 1993.

Fortunately for Tim he met up with Sue again and the fun really started, they got married in May 2005 and spent the rest of Tim’s life at the party. Kirstin and James were part of the package with Sue and Tim Loved them, they became one happy, loud and very close family.

 

There were three things in life that Tim loved.

He loved his sport - be it squash, tennis (well, at least the drinking part) and latterly golf. Tim had a great eye for the ball. The only time that he was ever asked (that should read “allowed”) to play squash doubles he took to it easily, he got into the zone, as you do.
Unfortunately, Tim forgot that there were four people on the court instead of two when he took a ball which came off the back wall, leaned into it and gave it a full blooded drive.
If anyone wants to know what it’s like to be shot. Ask Jean Burgin. She was knocked off her feet and had a bruise the size of a grapefruit on the back of her thigh that was still in evidence a year later. And to this day we still don’t know what happened to the ball!

He loved his food - more than any man I’ve ever met. Tim ate everything with great relish. He was a super cook. His barbecuing skills were famous –most people manage with one barbecue but Tim believed in multi-tasking and could handle up to four at one time –he needed that for the amount of meat that was cooked at Tim’s barbecue. The only thing that wasn’t available from it was salad –that didn’t count as proper food. I’ve also heard that Monty the butcher has complained that his profits have seriously dropped since Tim took ill.

He loved his drink - he approached each pint of lager or bottle of wine with enthusiasm as if it was his very first or his very last. I was personally heartened to hear that he’d managed a drop of port on Christmas Eve.

For those of you who might be counting to three - food and drink just count as one.

Most of all Tim loved his family - Sue was the love of his life and what a party they had together. I asked Sue if she had a particular memory that she’d like to share of Tim and she said that she hadn’t just one, EVERYTHING about life with Tim was just FUN. He was very proud of Emily and Thomas and of Kirstin and James and the fine young people that they have grown into. As someone outside the family, I saw the banter Tim had with the next generation it appeared tome that this family was a real bunch of good mates.

When Tim was spending time in St Cuthbert’s hospice, they had to keep the door of his room closed because of the laughing and shrieking (I understand that Kay was a particular culprit) which was disturbing the other patients who were a bit on the poorly side.

If you’ve been paying attention, you will have noticed that a number of similar words have cropped up regularly – Enthusiasm, relish, gusto, party, fun and love.

That’s it.

That’s Tim!

Tim we love you mate. We’re really sorry that you had to leave the party early. There is just one more thing. On Sue’s orders, when you get to the squash club have a really good time remembering Tim. Please just have one more drink than you were going to –

you just know Tim would approve.

John Welsh