Parish of Leatherhead - Warner Wright

ST MARY AND ST NICHOLAS CHURCH WITH ALL SAINTS
Leatherhead

A Service of Celebration for the Life of

WARNER LESLIE WRIGHT

8th June 1917 - 27th September 2011

Thursday 20th October 2011
11.30am

Order of Service

Jointly conducted by Revd. Graham Osborne and Canon David Eaton
Organist Peter Holt

ENTRANCE MUSIC
Adagio Sonata No. 1 .. Mendelssohn

SENTENCES

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

HYMN: Love divine, all loves excelling

TRIBUTE
Kate Wright
Remembering a Life Well Lived

Some people just can't help
Making a difference in our lives
By simply being whom they are
They make the world a little brighter
A little warmer
A little gentler
And when they are gone
We realise how lucky we are
To have had our Gramps
The world has lost a very special person.

BIBLE READING
John 14: 1-6, 27
read by David Eaton

TRIBUTE
by Vicky & Matt Wright
Gramps, you were just a lad so many years ago.
You had your loves and had your dreams,
you watched us come and go.

We haven't always thought about
the things that you have seen.
To us you've just been Gramps
no thought of all your strings.

But we remember now in love
your life from start to end.
We're very glad we knew you
as Gramps, and as a friend.

HYMN (Crimond): The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want,

ADDRESS
David Eaton

Warner was has lived to a great age. His life began during the First World War. If you have been glued to Downton Abbey on recent Sunday evenings you will appreciate just how different life was when he came into the world. There was a much more rigid social order, and religious faith played a still significant part in daily living for many people.

One of these was Warner’s mother who was a member of the Salvation Army, still at that stage something of a radical revivalist religion. It meant that at home they kept the Sabbath, so that Sundays were very different days from the rest of the week. They had the Sunday roast on Saturday and Sunday was a complete day of rest.

All this left its mark on the young Warner as he grew up in New Cross. He was throughout his life a man of faith and high principle. Interestingly even with Warner, an only child, there seems to have been some kind of healthy teenage rebellion. Whereas Mum was Low Church, Warner’s taste was for the colour and ceremony of Anglo-Catholicism, a stark contrast.
Warner with his mother
Warner had the music gene and because of this he attended the London Choir School. He was recommended by his violin tutor. The Choir School suited him very well. It seems to have operated a kind of rent-a-choir arrangement.

Warner remembered singing at some of the most prestigious of London Churches: St Stephen’s Gloucester Road, Holy Trinity Brompton - a bit different in those days I imagine - The Guards Chapel, St Paul’s Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields amongst them.

Warner in school uniform
Warner the young chorister

When Warner started work it was accountancy which he took up and trained for. He worked in the City and for much of his life with Laken & Auria who were in the travel and theatre business.

Edith lived in Dulwich close by to New Cross. She caught Warner’s eye. He followed her home. But it’s not what you might think; all was above board. He was, says Edith, very much a gentleman, which you could tell because he carried a rolled umbrella and wore yellow gloves. At the time Edith was only 16 ... so that all those child bride stories are true.

Warner had a tandem, although I don’t think he wore Lycra. For whatever reason Edith was never to ride on a bicycle made for two, nor did she dream they would ever get married. But married they were at St Barnabas Dulwich at a date unspecified, says Edith, or we will all think she is ancient, which clearly just isn’t the case.

It had been a whirlwind romance. He swept her off her feet, who would have thought it, but there was a war on and Warner had been called up, so things needed to be sorted out in a hurry. Edith was training as a nurse at the time. Because it was wartime Warner actually proposed by telegram, which he sent on one knee.

In the war Warner served in the Royal Corps of Signals as a Sergeant and was attached to The Scottish Horse Artillery.

He went into Normandy on D-Day +1 and also served in Belgium and Holland ending the war in Hamburg.
Warner with a Dutch family WW2
Warner Wright WW2
To begin with in married life Warner and Edith lived with Warner’s parents but after a while they were able to move to their own property at Stoneleigh.

They were very happy there and it was there that their family was born: Michael and twins Ian and Jackie, with now seven grandchildren: Nicholas and Natasha, Katie and twins Vicky and Matthew, Andrew and Stephen.

It was there too that Edith became a 'choir widow'. Martyn Farrant, later Vicar of St Martin’s in Dorking, was then the Vicar of Stoneleigh. There was an active choir which included some memorable choir holidays and choir tours where Edith got on board as the Nurse ... so if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em.

Edith and Warner with Andrew 7wks
In 1973 Warner and Edith and family moved to Leatherhead and bought the house Mike and Molly Lewis had on the market at an unrepeatable price. On their first Sunday in church here Warner said to Edith “I won’t join the choir, I’ll sit with you”, which he did - for one Sunday.

So Edith was back to being a choir widow, but the choir had found the loyalest of members, who could always be relied upon to turn up and sing his heart out.

Warner leads the choir
My special memory of Warner with the choir is in his role as Crucifer.

On Palm Sunday he would tie palms to the cross with red ribbon and his wartime service came to the fore. Upright and determined he headed up the aisle like he was carrying the Regimental Colours into battle, with their honours proudly displayed.

A true soldier of Christ.

900th Anniversary of Leatherhead Parish Church: Crucifer Warner leads the way
The choir wasn’t of course Warner’s only input into church life. He was a staunch member of The Friends and with other stalwarts he helped to raise much valued funds. He also took a hands-on approach to the upkeep of the churchyard.

Those were the days when The Friends cut the grass themselves, and cut back the brambles, and Warner was always in the forefront of the working parties they organised.

With Horace Wright and David Heath alongside there was a distinct military air to proceedings, as strimmers advanced in line across the churchyard. Practical Christianity.

Presentation to Warner from Horace Wright
on Warner's retirement from the Friends' Committee


Mole Valley Show 1986: Parish Church/Friends stand
L-R Jack Stuttard - Ruth Spiers - David Saunders - Horace Wright - Warner Wright - Sandy Morris

Warner also had a big hand in running the Parish Church Hall as treasurer and for many years worked alongside Shelia Sutherland. They made a formidable duo. It can probably be said Warner took more of a George Osborne than Ed Balls approach to Hall finance. He wasn’t always that keen to tell you how much they had got, and even less keen about spending it. But for that very reason he did a good job as treasurer and the Hall remained not only solvent but in good order too. He knew: 'where your treasure is there will your heart be also'.

Warner also served as Churchwarden and his gentle good-humoured style made for good relations and the willing support of the congregation. For some he became a father-figure.

Warner has lived to see the other side of ninety. Had you been a betting man when Warner was in his forties, you could have received extremely long odds on his reaching his tenth decade. His health was at times mixed. But Warner set a steady course and undeterred kept going, resolute and faithful, not least because he was wonderfully supported by his family, and most especially by Edith.


Edith and Warner relaxing at home

This has been particularly true over the last four years. Warner has suffered from dementia but been lovingly cared for by Edith. To see them together was to be reminded of young love in all its tenderness. I was touched to hear from Edith that these last years, in their way, drew out more of the real Warner. He was somehow able to relax more, and had lost any inhibitions that may have constrained him in earlier life.


Warner and Edith: Christmas with the Kelseys

He said to her “Do you love me as much as I love you” and towards the end he said “There are not many people as happy as you and I” and kissed her hand.

Tributes received include:
He always had a smile and a friendly word
We always admired his determination as a poppy seller each year in the town
Happy memories of singing together in choir festivals and running the choir stall at the Autumn market
A wonderful gentleman
A tireless worker to promote the smooth running of the church
I will miss Warner’s impish smile and the lovely story he told of Edith losing him in the supermarket.
We loved him very much

So there is not much doubt that we can with confidence commit Warner to God’s safe keeping today. He will be received gladly into heaven where Jesus has gone before to prepare a place for him.

Warner was a true disciple. I don’t suppose he was perfect, but that’s the point you don’t need to be, because God’s love reaches out to embrace us all even when our track record isn’t as good as Warner’s. But when it is we may also celebrate and give thanks to God, with hats in the air, for the person we have known and rejoice to have shared life with him.

So gentlemen, don’t forget, if you wish to win the heart of a lady - carry a rolled umbrella and wear yellow gloves.

PRAYERS
ending with The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: Abide with me; fast falls the eventide

TRIBUTE
by Stephen Kelsey

God looked around his garden
and he found an empty place.
And then he looked down upon the earth
and saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
and lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
he always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
he knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough,
and the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids,
and whispered "Peace be thine."
It broke our hearts to lose you,
but you didn't go alone.
For part of us went with you,
the day God called you home.

COMMENDATION

EXIT MUSIC
Nimrod .. Elgar

 

The Committal follows at Randalls Park Crematorium.

You are warmly invited to the Church Hall
for refreshments where the family and close friends
will join you after the Committal at Randalls Park Crematorium.
Donations if wished to Cancer Research or Princess Alice Hospice, Esher,
as you leave or sent to Hawkins & Sons Funeral Directors,
Highlands Road, Leatherhead KT22 8ND.

Some more photos from the family albums


Family outing to the seaside
The Wright family and friends on the beach

Michael, Warner and Ian
Warner and Edith's 45th wedding anniversary

At Jackie and Nick's wedding
Sandy Morris - the bridal group about to enter,
Jackie and Nick's wedding at Leatherhead Parish Church


Jackie and Nick's wedding at Leatherhead Parish Church

Warner Wright – A Tribute : from the November 2011 Parish magazine

I know precisely when I first met Warner Wright: it was in 1973 and he and Edith had just bought from us our first house in Leatherhead at 2 Mayell Close. Fortunately our sale and purchase negotiations had been amicable, and as Edith will confirm we left the house in a clean and tidy condition! I say fortunately, because in the event our joint involvement in Church and other activities meant that we were destined to see a lot of each other in the ensuing years!

Before coming to Leatherhead, Warner had been a Church member and chorister at Stoneleigh. On moving to Leatherhead Warner promised Edith that he would sit with her in church rather than in the choir stalls. It was a promise that lasted all of one Sunday! Warner joined the choir and was an active and loyal member for 23 years, at which time his vocal chords began to deteriorate. He seldom missed a practice let alone a service, and for many years was the choir’s crucifer. This was the start of what was to become a very big involvement in church affairs at St. Mary and St. Nicholas.

Warner’s financial background led to his being invited with the late Bob Brixey to check and bank every Monday morning, the Sunday collections, and he was treasurer of the church hall committee for 20 years. In the latter role he was extremely adept and keen at getting money in, and very protective then of the funds for which he felt very responsible. He looked upon the hall fund income as being primarily for the purpose of benefitting and maintaining facilities at the hall, and the case for funds to be diverted to other church activities, as frequently happened, had to be a convincing one!

Other duties undertaken by Warner included those of Churchwarden, Committee member of The Friends, and a member of the car rota scheme which transported people to and from church. He also spent a great deal of time helping to keep the churchyard in good condition and one retains fond memories of seeing Warner and the late David Heath, with wheelbarrows and a variety of gardening tools at the ready.

Warner was a well known figure in Leatherhead itself, walking into the town every morning in order to collect his morning paper and for over 20 years, selling, on the specially appointed day, Remembrance Day poppies. In World War II, Warner had served as a sergeant with the Royal Corps of Signals attached to the 79th Scottish Horse Regiment, a regiment closely associated with the Royal Artillery. He landed in France just after D Day in June 1944 and saw active service in France, Holland and Germany. When selling poppies near Cradlers shop in the High Street, Warner always wore his Regimental beret and the positive reaction to this was reflected in the generous donations in his collection can.

Warner Wright made a major contribution to the life and work of St. Mary and St Nicholas Church. He was much loved and respected, and we will all miss him very much indeed.
Mike Lewis

I would like to share my Faith with you - from the December 2011 Parish Magazine

I would like to share my Faith with you, how it became even stronger in the last four and a half years while caring for dear Warner. I wanted to care for Warner in our own home until the Lord called Warner Home. Without my Faith in the dear Lord and all your Prayers I could never have achieved this.

As you know, Warner did not always know me - I had many hats. With time and God's help I was able to accept this, sometimes we even had a little laugh over this. I always felt a wonderful sense that the Lord was with me day and night, he helped me to get through difficult periods, the Lord gave me such patience and a wonderful sense of humour. The odd time I did feel sad, I could open my heart to the Lord how I felt. Somehow he brought me back to remember all my blessings. The great thing Warner was happy. Warner used to say to me "I do hope that you are as happy as I am" I thanked the Lord for this.

The day before the Lord called Warner home I was holding Warner's hand and he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it three times. I really felt that he knew I was his wife. I did get on my knees and thanked the Lord. I had prayed to the Lord that I could accept Warner not knowing me but before the Lord took him please may Warner know that I am his wife and he did.

I would not have missed these last years caring for Warner. I could not have done this but for the Lord giving me Strength a supportive Family, your Prayers, the way you kindly spoke to him when Warner came to Church. When he was unable to come to Church you would enquire of him. When I went home and told him his face would light up. Warner loved his Church. The Lord also gave me a very special friend that was always there and a Friend’s flat where the odd time I could catch up with my sleep.

If anybody is climbing on the Faith Ladder go on climbing, Faith is a wonderful you are never alone, the Lord is always by you side. The Lord has also given me a very supportive loving Family.
Edith Wright

Please contact the editor if you would like to add further tributes or memories of Warner
images unless otherwise stated are via the Wright family
page created 22 Oct 11: updated 30 Nov 11