Kenneth Sharratt (25 Sep 1925 - 30 Mar 2016)

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Location
St Mary's Church Station Road West Moors BH22 0JF
Date
18th Apr 2016
Time
1pm
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In loving memory of Kenneth Sharratt who sadly passed away on 30th March 2016. Husband of the late Audrey and father to Michael

FUNERAL TRIBUTE and Eulogy


My Father Ken, Kenneth Samuel Sharratt was born on 25th September 1925, to Albert and Maud Sharratt. He was born in Long Ford Coventry, along with his Older brother David, to a forman and foundry man, who made patterns for casting metals. This was hard physical work for his father but this was the norm.

They lived in a small family house with a reasonable size piece of land. His father had a keen interest in gardening inherited from his father. This meant that he enjoyed spending time growing plants and vegetables and this allowed him to feed not only his own family well, but also sell enough to provide for a family holiday to the seaside. This love of gardening obviously rubbed off onto Dad as he gardened for all his life, up until a few months before he passed away. Dad’s early passion was also vegetables. He had a large allotment in Coventry at one time where he too used to feed the street! His real favourite was more in the flowers line and he loved a traditional English garden with pristine borders full of bedding plants. His great love was to grow chrysanthemums of all sorts and sweet peas, which he used to decorate the house for Mum.

He was an intelligent man with a deep interest in Engineering, his favourite subject area being that of traditional steam, and a love of steam engines of all sorts. For his 70th birthday we bought him a train driving lesson at our local park with a small gauge narrow line which he thoroughly enjoyed.

His father and mother died in 1941, which forced him to be extremely independent, however he had a great deal of support from his Aunties - a formidable group of 8 ladies. When just married he and mum lived with his Auntie Annie for some time, prior to being able to afford their own place to rent, something which has become the norm again today.

He was educated at John Gulson Grammer school, where he matriculated at 14, with excellent marks in mathematics and engineering drawing, history and english. This allowed him to be apprenticed to Coventry Gauge and Tool as a Toolmaker earning the princely sum of 11/4d per week - a proper profession and one which would give him a protection in the war years.

Ken like all young men, was interested in meeting girls, and the best way to do this was learning to dance, which is how he met Mum, and this would become a favourite pastime for them in the war time and long afterwards. Ken was called away to war at the finishing stages and was sent to Palestine where he was in the REME mending army vehicles. However, when stationed for R and R in Cyprus he was able to acquire material which once sent home ensured that Mum would have a silk wedding dress….. which she made herself.

A practical side was in both sides of our family.

They married just after the war finished in 1948, achieved 65 Years of happy marriage, a very rare achievement and one recognised by the queen!

Throughout their early years together they spent much time travelling around the country on bike and train, but also enjoying the sports cars of the time, with fiends. The love of ones like the three wheeled Morgan led onto a love of Motor sports in general, and F1 in particular. Both were keen followers of the Coventry Brandon Bees Speedway team, which they attended along with his Brother Dave and Wife. He could be described as an “early petrol head”!

Within a few years dad progressed from the shop floor into the offices…. This career path enabled him to buy his own small house in Coventry of which he was very proud. Here he honed his skills in DIY which continued for most of his life.

When I was 14 my father had the opportunity to move to the south coast to become a factory manager for Coventry Gauge. This transition of moving from Coventry to West Moors would be his final home, where he lived for over 45 years. Continued hard work and success would eventually lead to being the Engineering Director of Coventry Gauge and tool - not a bad climb for an apprentice.


Mum had an impressive array of Cook books, and kitchen gadgets – if it has been made Mum had one.

Dad’s garage is the equivalent - a tool shop wonderland. If one exists….. it is likely that there is one in the garage, from small screwdrivers to a lathe. Just what do you need 4 workmates for? Christmas Cribs could be made in Quantity, Bird feeders were always available. Tables, chairs, Cutlery boxes, jewellery boxes, dresser units, built in wardrobes were just a few of the things that were made, and all to a high degree of precision.

He and mum were often to be found at the centre of parties, and were extremely convivial. He was a founding member of the Local Ringwood Wine club, a subject that he had a great deal of interest in. he gained a good deal of both practical and theoretical knowledge of wine, and spent several years on tours of the continent in cellars and vineyards learning more about the art.

Dad loved his granddaughters and when we left them with Mum and Dad for some quality time in summer holidays they would often take them out to the beach and local amusement parks which the girls remember with affection to this day. He was very proud of his granddaughters and especially so when Great Granddaughter Aveline was born, this required an immediate purchase of a Merrythought Teddy Bear, even if it was bigger than she was.

These thoughts are not just mine though

Some words form a former neighbour……….

Ken and Audrey were both profoundly proud of their Family and devoted a considerable amount of time and energy to ensure that their time together was both enjoyable and memorable.
They both had strong interest and involvement in the immediate community of our small cul-de-sac and also the wider community of West Moors, Dorset. Audrey`s culinary abilities were renowned, (and enjoyed), whilst Ken`s patience, and skills, at ``making things`` provided him with numerous projects requiring many absorbing hours in his garage-workshop. They also worked tirelessly together each year on their garden so that it not only looked beautiful but also provided some edible crops.
People like Audrey and Ken make the world a better place. They were “givers” not `takers` and as such made a positive contribution to the lives of all of those people they came into contact with.
It was a big shock to Dad when Mum really started to get ill, and when she final but quite quickly dies 2 years ago, he was completely heart broken. He missed Mum terribly, but being a practical and pragmatic man soldiered on as best he could….. learning to cook, clean wash his clothes and even Iron…… He was never the same man again, as his spark for life seemed to have gone.
He was diagnosed with many illnesses over the years – A couple of Heart attacks, Bowel Cancer, and other more minor issues, but he was a strong man. He was however diagnosed of lung cancer in November, and in January told me of his wish to move closer to be near us. In February he moved up to stay with us and his illness progressed rapidly. In his final days he declined rapidly and died peacefully in our local hospice.
HE will be missed….

Richard and Ann Ell donated £50 in memory of Kenneth

In memory of a lovely man.

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Michael and Maria Sharratt donated in memory of Kenneth
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Richard and Janet Swain donated £25 in memory of Kenneth
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Offline donation: Sylvia, Julian and Carol Sims donated in memory of Kenneth
Offline donation: Dr A P Sharrtatt & Mrs J P Sharratt donated in memory of Kenneth
Susan and Daryl Stephenson donated £50 in memory of Kenneth

Fond memories of many happy family gatherings in Nottingham. Always welcoming and with a great sense of fun was generous with his time and his friendship.We send our condolences to Mike, Maria and Family,Rest in peace Ken with your dear Audrey.Sue, Darryl, Ben and Harriet.

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Tony Proud donated £20 in memory of Kenneth
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Sue and Darryl Stephenson wrote

Fond memories of many happy family celebrations in Nottingham.Warm and welcoming, Ken was always fun to be with and generous with his time and friendship. We send our love and condolences to Mike, Maria and family at this sad time . Rest in peace dear Ken , reunited now with Audrey.
Sue, Darryl, Ben and Harriet.

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Jason Cook donated £50 in memory of Kenneth
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jackie and tim SHONE donated in memory of Kenneth

a very good friend who is sadly missed

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John and Christina Bycroft donated £50 in memory of Kenneth

In loving memory of Kenneth Sharratt.
John, Christina ,Catherine , Joseph and Louisa Bycroft remember Ken with affection , fondness and a smile . Ken you were always witty and charming. Thank you .
God Bless , rest in peace .

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Sandra Dumont is attending the funeral and the reception
Sandra Dumont donated in memory of Kenneth
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Sarah Murray donated £30 in memory of Kenneth

In memory of our Uncle Ken - rest well on the Sharratt cloud - Sarah and Callum z

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Sarah Murray wrote

In memory of our Uncle, rest well on the Sharratt cloud - Sarah and Callum x

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Lisa Sharratt donated £40 in memory of Kenneth
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Lisa Sharratt donated £40 in memory of Kenneth
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Wendy and Tony Proud is attending the funeral and the reception
Jenny & Tony Trussler wrote

Audrey and Ken were our next-door neighbours for around twenty years when we lived in West Moors. They were friendly and kind and were always willing to help us, and other residents in our small cul-de-sac community. Thank you and we wish that you Rest in Peace together again.

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Jenny & Tony Trussler donated £27.45 in memory of Kenneth
Ken & Audrey at the heart of their Family

Ken & Audrey at the heart of their Family

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Jason and Bill Cook is attending the funeral and the reception
caroline Pembleton posted a picture
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caroline Pembleton posted a picture
Swanage steam railway, grandpa's 90th birthday

Swanage steam railway, grandpa's 90th birthday

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caroline Pembleton is attending the funeral and the reception
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Chistmas 2015 givingaveline her wooden train

Chistmas 2015 givingaveline her wooden train

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caroline Pembleton donated £50 in memory of Kenneth

We will miss you grandpa, rest well. Love hugs and kisses, Caroline chris and aveline

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Michael and Maria Sharratt posted a picture
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