I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun Of happy memories that I leave when life is done. "Afterglow"

THE TRIBUTE

THE TRIBUTE
Mick was a loving, caring man who would do anything for anyone. Ruth says he was ‘Jenner by name, generous by nature’ and would have given his last pound away. He had a quick sharp wit and could see the funny side of any situation. He lived for his family – Ruth, his wife, to whom he was devoted, his children and his grandchildren.

He was born Michael Jenner (with a middle name which he hated so we won’t mention it) on 4th March 1943, the third of four boys born to Lil and William, having two older brothers, Bill and Colin and a younger brother Ron. He was born, grew up and went to school in Brockley, Lewisham, where, by all accounts, he was a bit of a lad. He was clever and could have done well, but he never really applied himself, except in sports as he boxed and played football and cricket.
When he left school at the age of 14 he took a job at a Travel Agency. He met and married Tina in his late 20s and they had three children, Mark, Paul and Lynn. Four years into their marriage they obtained a council transfer to Great Cornard in Suffolk and initially Mick found it difficult to find work. He applied for a job as a painter and decorator, although he had no previous experience and with his ‘gift of the gab’ he talked himself into the job, learning as he went along and earning himself a reputation as a craftsman.

Mick and Tina separated in the late seventies and initially the boys stayed with Mick. But when Tina moved back to London she took all the children with her and Mick lost touch with them for several years.

In making a new life for himself, Mick joined the darts team at the local pub and played three or four times every week, becoming captain of the Kings Head team. One day in the pub he met Ruth and they clicked immediately, becoming the best of friends. After a few months Ruth moved in with Mick and a few months later, at the end of 1989, they were married.
Ruth also had three grown up children, Leanne, Mandy and Robbie, and Mandy still lived at home and therefore moved in with Mick too. They got on well from the start and never argued. Mick had a way of letting Mandy know if she had done something wrong, like the day she received a letter from the mould under her bed telling her that it was time she did some cleaning.

Soon after meeting Ruth Mick tired of playing darts and decided he wanted to spend more time at home. He and Ruth discovered that they had a love of gardening and began to spend every spare minute in the garden. They always had a project on the go and transformed their concrete back yard into a beautiful haven with every available space filled with colour. Mick was the king of the runner bean and would have loved to have a big garden where he could grow vegetables. It was amazing, he even found that gardening cured his hayfever!

Ruth encouraged Mick to celebrate Christmas, which had always passed almost unnoticed in the past. They began a tradition of sending him off to the pub while the family transformed the house with decorations and he grew to love the traditions Ruth introduced, including having all the family round on Christmas Day. Mick loved his food and Ruth says he was very easy to feed. He also enjoyed cooking and could make a good chicken curry, although Ruth always did the preparation and clearing up. He liked to think he was domesticated and he was certainly willing, though not always productive. But he did all the driving and the decorating while Ruth did most of the housework, so everything was shared.

Mick enjoyed watching sport, gardening programmes and quiz shows on TV. He read crime novels and took The Sun for the sport pages. He was a lifelong Millwall supporter, mostly from his armchair, and enjoyed doing cryptic crosswords, initially in the Telegraph, but later buying puzzle books. He and Ruth did one puzzle every morning to start the day.

He loved music and was very knowledgeable, and the family say that he was always singing. Whatever the occasion, he and Ruth would say “We know a song about that”.
Mick and Ruth rarely went on holiday, never wanting to leave their garden, but they would occasionally have a few days away visiting relatives in this country.

He was a very affectionate man and was happy as long as he could be with Ruth and his family. He loved being a granddad and doted on all the grandchildren. He was also thrilled to be reunited with his daughter Lynn five years ago, taking every opportunity to make up for lost time.

He loved his job and only stopped working when he was forced to through ill health. As his condition deteriorated, he was incredibly brave and kept his spirits up, putting everyone else first and keeping his sense of humour to the last.

The family say they couldn’t have asked for more, he was the most loving, caring, generous man – one in a million – who will never be forgotten. As they say: “Life has to end … love doesn’t.”

FROM SO MANY FRIENDS

Use your cursor to turn the pages;

25th April 2007.....2pm

ORDER OF SERVICE
Enter to: There You'll Be by Faith Hill

Welcome and Opening Words

Lighting of the Candle by the grandchildren while we listen to Just To Be With You Again by Lionel Ritchie

Introduction

Poems (Kirsty, Leanne, Lynn)

Kirsty is reading this:
MY POEM
The person who I’ll never forget,My Grandad he’s the best,He’s always helped me all the time,He never ever made a mess.Except from when he was painting,You see that was his job,He didn’t sit there doing nothing,He wasn’t a lazy slob.But now he can’t talk or walk,Or do really anything,But that don’t mean I do not care,Because I still really love him.There are some people, who just ignore,They just sit there and stare,But me and my granddad,To be honest we don’t really care.I know he can hear us,Cos he gets tears in his eye,When we read soppy cards,Oh Grandad please don’t cry.You’ll always have this little girl,With the really frizzy hair,But all that matters is just this,I love you and I care.Even when you’ve gone away,I’ll think of you night and day,I won’t forget the good times we’ve had,We’ve never ever had any bad.You’re always in my heart for ever,Just you and me together,We’ll skip along in my wonderland,You and I hand in hand.I love you so much,Your golden touch,Warms my heart,Your 1st on my chart.

Leanne is reading this (posted by my blogfriend Libby...actual author unknown):

God looked around his Garden and found an empty place.He then looked down upon his earth and saw your loving face.He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. His Garden must be beautiful, he always takes the best.He knew that you were suffering, he knew you were in pain. And knew that you would never get well on earth again.He saw your path was difficult, he closed you tired eyes, He whispered to you "Peace be Thine" and gave you wings to fly.When we saw you sleeping so calm and free of pain, We would not wish you back to earth to suffer once again.You've left us precious memories, your love will be our guide, You live on through your children, you're always by our side.It broke our hearts to lose you, but you did not go alone. For part of us went with you on the day God called you home

Lynn is reading this (written by Analia my blogfriend in Uruguay):




Tribute to Mick (including pieces by Mandy and Chris)


Mandy has written and is reading this:

How can I put into words what this man means to me? So many moments in time that changed the way I saw the world because of Mick. As a child I didn't realise what unconditional love meant - Mick is the one who taught me this - always supportive, even when I was being a 'Silly Cow'. Never judgemental even when I was judging myself. Always managing to make me smile when tears pricked my eyes and my heart was breaking. Sega golf, home, pub, Sundays, watching prisoner cell block H, games of crib, brandy and coke in the garden and just being together could make the troubles of the world just disappear. Mick took me in, gave me a home, a place to go when nothing was going right and so much unconditional love. People that really know me, know my life, also know why I don't call him dad; Mick is so much more than that, anyone can be a dad - not everyone can be a hero. Thank you Mick, not my dad, my hero.


Chris has written and is reading this:

Well what can I say, I witnessed two humble and courageous people fight a disease with little to no help from doctors, authorities on a nearly daily basis, still willing to listen to other peoples problems and gripes and to still be able to spare other peoples feelings in the process. A mother to us, a wife who put not only all her efforts into making Mick's life as bearable and comfortable as possible while keeping the rest of us happy while everything was falling apart, thanks mum. I for one will never forget Mick and the laughter he gave me. A lovable and charismatic man who could charm the birds off the trees. Thanks mate, I will have a drink for you.

Silent Reflection

Music: Old and Wise by Alan Parson Project

Words of Farewell

Closing Words

Exit to: The Only Way Is Up (BATSUMA!) by Yazz