A Celebration of the life of Martin (Bill) McGrath. 11 am Monday 15th September 2008. St Faith’s Crematorium. Norwich Welcome to you all today to this celebration of the life of Martin McGrath, known to some of you as William or Bill. We also are aware of those who may not be here but are thinking of Martin and Bev. Inevitably as well as being a celebration of Martin’s life it is also a sad occasion because we are saying our final farewells to Martin. The pain of losing a husband, a father, a grandfather, a son, a brother, uncle, friend and colleague is different for us all but the keenness of the pain of that loss is felt by us all. The reason for that is not only the loss of an individual but that we are reminded of our common humanity. When someone has lived a full and long life we may some how see their death as being in the natural order of things, yet when someone dies relatively young, unexpectedly and very suddenly , as was the case with Martin we feel stunned , shocked into disbelief. The shear unblinking, incomprehension of the universe just makes us want to say No! This cannot be. It is not happening. Somehow we see their life as incomplete, unfulfilled. We may think of words not spoken or deeds not done. Yet even a relatively short life may be fruitful and productive William Wordsworth puts it to these words; My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; So is it now when I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die! The child is father of the Man; And I wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety. So let us try to look beyond our grief and remember Martin’s life as he lived it. In keeping with Martin’s wishes this morning’s ceremony will contain music, some stories from his life, prepared with help from Bev, a tribute from Sean, and there will be some time when all of us can remember Martin in our own way. Whatever your own belief’s I hope that you will all find some comfort in this mornings ceremony. I will begin with some words on life and death by Herbert Read. “The death of each of us is in the order of things: it follows as surely as night follows day. We can take the Tree of Life as symbol. The human race is the trunk and branches of this tree Individual men and women are the leaves which appear one season, Flourish for a season and then die. I too am like a leaf of this tree and one day I shall be torn by a storm or simply decay and fall, And become of the earth about its roots. But while I live I make a minute but unique contribution to the human race. When I die and fall the tree remains, nourished to some degree by my life. Millions of leaves have preceded me and millions will follow me: But the tree itself grows and endures.” Martin was born on 1st August Nineteen Fifty One in Athy, County Kildare, in The Irish Republic. He was a son for Angelia and William The family moved to Sandiacre near Nottingham and it was there that his brothers Michael and Joseph and his sister Teresa were born. Martin joined The R.A.F. at the age of eighteen and eventually served nine years. During that time he worked Vulcan bombers and Phantom jets being based mainly in Lincolnshire. It was there that he married and his son Sean was born. He also spent some years in Larbruck, Germany a town near the Dutch border.Martin was particularly interested in Military History. He read widely and regularly watched documentaries relating especially to Bomber Command. His favourite World War Two Aircraft was the Lancaster Bomber. As Martin always insisted it was an “aircraft” and never a “plane”. After leaving the services in 1978 Martin and his family moved to Norfolk. He spent many years in the Norwich area working first for Air Anglia at Norwich Airport and then in various capacities at Anglian Windows. In 1997 he re-married and two years later he and Beverley moved to North Norfolk and had quite recently settled in North Creake, near Burnham Market ; an area that he loved deeply. Martin’s main hobby for the past twenty five years had been attending the gym for serious weight training sessions. The peak of his performance came in 1988 when he won the title of “Mr Eastern Counties” in the regional body building competition. In later years Martin taught himself to type and spent many hours at his computer wring down his thoughts and working on a novel based on the activities of Bomber Command. He also wrote fairy tales for his beloved granddaughter Ciara, although he probably would never admit that to his friends down the gym. Martin was always watching the weather forecast and looking out of the window to check on the weather conditions in the hope of dry weather with little wind so he could go out on his motorbike, a Honda Blackbird 1100 which he called “the bird”. He could often be found tinkering with his bike in the garage or on the driveway and enjoyed that work just as much as actual bike riding on the open road. A chance encounter led to Martin’s friendship with David. It was a situation where opposite’s attract but find a common ground and they shared many humorous moments and also discussed outing the world to rights. For over twenty years David was a good and true friend to Martin and in the weeks since Martin’s death he has also been a good friend to Beverly. Martin always tried to find time on a Saturday morning to go into Wells, with Beverly, where they would enjoy a coffee and cake and then walk down through the town the quayside. Of course Martin had to check out the motorbikes parked up there but he always reckoned that nothing he saw there could ever match up to his “bird”. Here with his tribute to his Dad is Sean. "Dad, You were a good Father and my best friend; I have an enormous amount to thank you for. I am only now realising what a massive impact you had on my life. You were determined for me to have the best possible start and continuously encouraged me to push myself. You encouraged me at school, taught me to drive, recommended my career path and introduced me to the gym and its way of life. Training together at CEYMS brings back lots of happy memories, it was probably the time we were closest. I remember the first day we went down the gym and I was about 14 you were doing bench press and grunting with the effort, I thought it was very strange to see my Dad doing that, but you got stuck in and as usual were keen for me to do the same. I’ll treasure those memories all the more now. Your advice and guidance were always sound, I only wish you could have taken your own sometimes. You were caring, funny, loving, generous and I know Ciara was the apple of you eye. She was your little angel and loved you so much. I only wish you could have stuck around a little longer to see her grow. I’m sure she will make you proud. Now, hopefully you have found peace at last and may even be enjoying a nice little drink with Granddad! One day we can go for a training session at the big gym in the sky, until then watch over Bev, Ciara and the rest of the family. I wish I had said a lot of this when you were alive, but I always thought there’d be tomorrow! I miss you dad and you’ll always be in my thoughts. I love you Dad." The Committal To every thing there is a season A time to be born and a time to die A time to plant and a time to reap. A time to dance and a time to mourn A time to build up and a time to breakdown A time to cast stones and a time to gather stones together A time you may embrace, a time you may refrain from embracing. To everything there is a season. Here together in this last act with great sorrow but without fear we leave that part of Martin we can no longer keep to its natural end. Martin I think that I speak for all of those who are today as well as though who are thinking of you when I say to you now; Martin we are glad that we walked through life with you, Saw your face, heard you voice and saw your smile. We cherish your many fine qualities, your achievements and your many fine deeds With love we say farewell With respect we leave you in peace Martin you fulfilled all the roles expected of you as a son, a husband, a dad, a granddad, a friend and a colleague. Rest in peace now and forever. Just because he is no longer a physical part of your family or your circle of friends there’s no need to let him go too quickly. Remember the words and phrases that he used. . Martin loved his family and his life and one of the ways that love has been repaid is by giving him the funeral that he desired. If you can live your lives to the full you will pay Martin the greatest tribute of all. I’ll leave you with these final words; Happy the man and happy he alone, He who can call today his own; He who, secure within, can say, Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today. Be fair or foul or rain or shine The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate are mine. Not heaven itself upon the past has power, But what has been has been, and I had my hour. John Dryden. Thankyou all for being here today.