The Legend That Is (Was) Uncle Maurice....

[Bbbananas]

Unfortunately UM passed away on christmas eve. Luckily I had been to see him the night before, but I knew then it would be the last time I would see him alive.

A stranger to all of you - but to me he was thus:
+ The first person to give me a sip of illicit underage alcohol (brandy).
+ The first man to drive me at 100 miles per hour (I was 7, it was 1969, in a leather-seated Rover which was the mutts nuts at the time) and make me scream with terror & excitement combined.
+ The man who I insisted I have my 8th birthday party at his house, the year my mum had run off with my primary school headmaster & the whole village was scandalised.

I remember him with a leer & a "Come on sit on my knee & gissa kiss" - until we told him in our mid-teens that really wasn't proper any more. :-(

He did his National Service in the Korean war, during which he saw untold horrors, but earned the respect of his comrades who (those who are left) gave him a Veteran's send-off & guard of honour. 200+ at his funeral in our town's equivalent of a cathedral.

A religious man, yet very naughty. Loved the ladies, loved his gin. Went from living in a caravan with his young bride after the war, to building up a very successful business. Known as The Gentleman Builder (I thought it was because he always said 'thank you' to the ladies afterwards ;-), but apparently it was cos he always wore a short & tie, always).

God bless ya Mo. I had your sort of gin on Wednesday - extra strong - 2/3 gin to 1/3 tonic, ice & a slice and with a 'bottoms up'. And a leer....

[rowanwitch]

Its never the bland relations we remember fondly....always the villains and eccentrics I always think some people are like electric bar fires and others are fireworks no one ever got enthralled by a bar fire.... good to see you are keeping his traditions alive... Sorry for your loss though....

[Dris]

What a great obituary salla -I bl00dy hope I can get one like that when my time comes !!
He left you with great memories-glad youre appreciating them x

[redcrx]

im glad that you got to see him before he died, salla :(

[whiskeryron]

My sort of guy salla,RIP, I do wish I had known him ( if there's a nice guy rogues section in heaven maybe I'll meet up with him) Ron♥xx

[Bbbananas]

If there is indeed a rogues nice guy gallery 'up there', he'll definitely be in it. With a tall glass of gin & a smile. Along with my first father-in-law, who was also a wonderful funny character who I remember with great fondness.

You're right rowan - it's the fireworks you remember. I want to be a sparkler. Mo was a sky burst. His only flaw was that he was a Mason............... ;-)

[lumination]

sounds like a pretty cool guy! a shame about him passing on but you have all the brilliant memories which is great. sounds like someone i would want to know

[joggerjayne]

He sounds very, very jolly.

Everyone should have a slightly dodgy relative like that.

[McMouse]

Salla........you've started my day with a smile. It's really uplifting to remember the rascals and flawed characters who have left us with such fond memories. Thanks for sharing Mo with us.

[ummmm]

Awwww sad to hear that Salla xx

[divegirl]

That sent a shiver down my spine. How blessed you were to have him in your life....RIP Uncle Maurice....

Lisa x

[mccfluff]

he sounds great - what a send off salla

[Sqad]

salla...as you know, I dont do emotions, deaths, birthdays or births, but if I did, it would be exactly the way that you have described.

[Mamyalynne]

God Bless Uncle Maurice, we all need one of those. ♥

[Bbbananas]

He came back from Malta last February with a mosquito bite, they thought it had set off his dormant malaria he had when he came back from the war. It took 9 months to diagnosed myodysplasia, then acute leukaemia. They gave him 3 months from that diagnosis, he made 3 weeks. He died the day after my aunt's 80th birthday - there is no way he would have left her before that!

He was no saint. Only this June he was at a family party patting my bum & cheekily scaring my mother by pretending to put his hand up her skirt....... Heaven will be a cheerier place for having him up there. And Earth will be a little less jolly.

[Bbbananas]

And sqad - I don't think he was very unlike you really...... ;-)
That's maybe why we get on. Will you be my new Uncle? xx

[marval]

I am sorry to hear of your loss, he sounds a lovely man. I am sure your memories of him will keep you going.x

[Sqad]

salla.....NO......I want a physical relationship with you............bu99er the emotional, meaningful one........!

[Bbbananas]

Yup - Uncle Maurice to a tee......!