Frank was my dad for 40 years. I remember the first time we met, with me very nervous, a feeling which increased as he viewed me from the top of a ladder with a "so where is this foreigner?". I didn't need to worry...
He loved life and had an unshakable faith in the basic goodness of the human race. He disliked any hint of tribalism.
Not one to "terriblise" things, he was willing to be happy, to enjoy life and other people's company. We were proud of the way he remained active, both in body and mind, even though his outings on the bike in later life (at times in icy weather) filled us with dread. He didn't tend to"do"aches and pains and soldiered on, often returning from his walk into town with a bunch of flowers.
I will remember our Christmases together; his love for Mum, his love of literature and music, and his way with words; his recitations of amusing poems; Morse Code messages tapped out on a table; our discussions, at times heated, as he played devil's advocate; his insistence that we were all road users supported by him walking some way off the edge of the road, our outing to the pub and our Spanish trips, his fierce desire to remain independent ...
xxx
Frank Kelley (Passed away 1 Dec 2017)
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In loving memory of Frank Kelley who sadly passed away on 1st December 2017, aged 94.
Frank was husband to Harriet and father to Howard and Martin. He served as a radio officer in the Merchant Navy during the war and his love of the sea never left him. Later he worked at Coastal Radio stations and then in London in Ship Inspection.
He was involved in society as a local councilor, a magistrate and as the President of the Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society. Only recently did he give up riding his bicycle, often swearing that his long life was due mainly to the two Bs; beer and bicycle. Leaving six grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren, he will be greatly missed.
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