Kevin was a true individual – many may say thank God, one of him was quite enough!
However we are all many things to many people, and whilst Kevin could be a head strong, stubborn and an argumentative person, possessing a lack of patience, despite him believing this quality to be his middle name, he was loved and cherished by all here today, and many others thinking of him.
The reason for this was his overwhelming good qualities, of bringing a smile, dry wit and self-humour, along with a good deal of style and colour into people’s lives. His relaxed, if not near ‘horizontal’ approach to life was the envy of many, yet he was always willing to play the ‘Mr fit it’ role, with his helpful and practical assistance to any DIY or maintenance situation, and along with his signature Churchill phrase of “Oh No No No”, all made him our Kevin.
That twinkle in his eye along with his mischievous smile left many unsure if he was being serious or stringing them along when telling one of his many stories.
Many may be surprised, that in later life he developed a real ability to engage with children, being able to play at their level, saw children gravitated to him. He loved playing water fights, decorating gingerbread men and other games with the children, although on this year’s safari in South Africa, having witnessing him marking off the animals he’d seen, on a made for children’s chart, I wonder if he hadn’t just become more child like himself?
Something that most people were jealous of Kevin for, was his ability to sleep anywhere, and so quickly, be it in a hammock, deck chair or even at his desk at Martin-Bakers, such a shame, his business class flatbed never quite had the same effect.
Kevin was one of those rare individuals who excelled at everything he did, be it DIY, gardening, making curtains, and cooking blah blah blah. So imagine when 4 of us decided to go on a skiing holiday and whilst having a group lesson on the dry slops in High Wycombe, the instructor asked the other 3 of us if we realised Kevin was holding us back, the ‘snoopy’ sniggers were instant, and loud. Unperturbed, Kevin took extra ‘coffee morning’ lessons whilst off work for two weeks with shingles and soon caught up, and so we all hit the slopes of Andorra. On one particular lift assent, Kevin became distracted by some kilt wearing young men skiing down the mountain, a glimpse too long, a crossing of skis, and a vacated bun meant someone had hit the snow!! Oh how we laugh again!!
Life is full of ups and downs but also opportunities, I was lucky enough to have met Kevin and have him as my partner for 21 years, and we had a very full and memorable time together.
Yes, that’s now been cut short by some long way, 30 Years according to Kevin who always believed he would reach 90?
Yes, he never even got to draw his state pension, worse he actually paid extra to complete a part year of N I contributions!!
Lucky, that my job was made redundant and we took the opportunity to retire some 2 years earlier than our original planned date of spring this year!!!
Those 2 ½ years in retirement have been busy, having even more holidays – yes it was possible even for us, and doing new things such as volunteering at the Riding for the Disabled – which had become a big part of our lives and will continue to do so for me. Having been frightened of horses before starting at the RDA, I shall continue my training to become an instructor, setting this as one of my goals, as I start a new chapter in my life. Thanking Kevin for encouraging me to go to that fateful induction on a freezing cold December evening almost 2 years ago!!
Oh so glad we grasped our retirement opportunity when we could and to have had those extra 2 years living our lives as we wanted.
Kevin, you will be so truly missed, not just by me but by everyone else here and I know what you would like to say to them:-
Retire if and when you can but whatever you do, live life, you never know what the next day may hold!!!  
 
     Good bye KH, I love you