Alan Edwards “EDDIE”

“No need for words except to say, loved and remembered every day”

Eddie passed away in the care of Leighton Hospital on 24th November 2021 aged 73 years.

The beloved husband of Lynne.  Devoted dad of Sarah & Scott.  Cherished grandad to Hannah, James, Ashley & Ellie.

Eddie will be so sadly missed and fondly remembered by all his friends & family.

His funeral took place on Tuesday 7th December at Crewe Crematorium Chapel at 12.15pm

Kind donations are going to The British Lung Foundation.

For further information and to offer your condolences, please telephone our Funeral Home on 01270 584447

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Born Saturday 27th March 1948 at 59 Alexander St, Crewe, to parents
Irene and Albert Edwards.
His childhood home was Maple Grove and the family later moved to
Lime Tree Ave as there was extra land for his Dads building business.
He grew up with his older brothers John, Frank and Norman and had a
happy childhood sadly John and Norman have predeceased him
Eddie attended Monks Coppenhall School which he enjoyed as he was
always near or top of his class. He was Captain of the school football
team, which he was very proud of, he and his team won many
competitions.
He passed the 11+ and went to the Boys Grammar School in Ruskin Rd.
Sadly as the years passed, he lost interest in learning, and he disliked
the fact that they played rugby not football which was always his
passion.
His brothers John and Norman were now working with his Dad so in
1964 when he was 16 he enrolled as an apprentice at Crewe Loco
works as a Fitter & Turner.
He now had money in his pocket and was able to get his Tiger Cub
motorbike. He had ridden a bike before, as previously he had secretly
taken Norman’s motorbike out of the garage and gone for a ride before
Norman came home.
It was the era of Mods and Rockers, and he was not sure which path to
follow. When he purchased a Vespa scooter the decision was made –
Mods it was.
He was a massive fan of Tamala Motown, and he threw himself into the
local scene, he loved the Twisted Wheel, Rowntree’s and Stax at
Manchester visiting often with his partner in crime John.
He was always very smart, and he followed the latest fashions and
trends – it had to be a mohair suit with a 12 inch pleat or vent. Nights out
were mainly the Burton first, then to the Barrel and finishing in the Boot
and Shoe in Nantwich. It would be the Beau Brummell on a Sunday
night and the pictures in the week.
Lynne and Eddie started seeing each other in April 1967 and soon
became very fond of each other. They started courting, as was the
parlance of the day, they saw each other every night as they lived very

close. Lynne told me that they sparked off each other, but when they did
have a falling out or disagreement, the making up was the best part!
Eddie played football and Captained Crewe Ham and the Oddfellows.
He was known as ‘Lead legs’ because of his hard tackling. He never
enjoyed playing in the winter months, Lynne remembered him covering
his feet in Winter Green, when the match was over, he was in agony as
it took ages to wear off.
Eddie and Lynne were married at St Michaels Church on Saturday 10th
May 1969 followed by a reception at Coppenhall Working Men’s Club.
Their wedding night was spent at the Crewe Arms Hotel where he
watched Match of the Day!
The following morning the newly-weds headed off to Pwllheli for a few
days as they were to attend a friend’s wedding on the Wednesday.
It was decided that they would live with Lynne’s parents whilst they
saved for a house of their own, it wasn’t an ideal situation, and it
certainly had its moments, but Eddie and Lynne were grateful for that
helping start to get on the property ladder.
Sarah arrived in November. It was decided that if the baby was a boy
Eddie would choose the name. His choice of name was ‘Chester” so
everyone was dead relieved it was a girl! On the upside, living with
parents meant they had ready-made baby-sitters so they were able to
enjoy a great social life with many friends.
They moved into their first home on their 2nd Wedding Anniversary.
In February 1972 Scott was born, everyone was relieved he’d changed
his mind about calling him ‘Chester’
One of Eddies biggest regrets was that to support his family he had to
work 6 days a week and evenings until 7pm, as well as sometimes doing
shifts on the P way which meant a lot of precious time was lost with
Sarah and Scott, but he wanted to be able to make sure that his family
was always safe and secure and that he gave them a good life.
In 1978 after buying an Austin 1800 with a tow bar Lynne and Eddie
bought their first caravan, now began another chapter in their life.
The caravan was something the whole family could enjoy, they joined
the Caravan Club Cheshire Centre and most weekends were spent
away attending Rallies. The social side was great, and Eddie loved

joining in with Five a side, Volleyball, Tug of War as he was very
competitive.
Eddie gained the nick name of Tommy as he mimicked the phrase
“Rock on Tommy” which was popular at the time. As you would expect
Eddie threw himself into the social side of caravanning, organising and
running Rallies, a mixture of weekend, holiday and many New Year
Rallies catering for our fellow Ralliers.
He also became the music man, bingo caller and quiz host. He was so
proud when the Sports Officer Ian Haig asked him to be the Volleyball
coach for the Cheshire Centre.
Once a year the National Caravan Club rally was held, usually over the
May Bank Holiday at various Country estates across the country,
hundreds of caravans competing for the National cup. This wasn’t a jolly
it was a battle for national pride!
Training would begin about six weeks before the event, sports teams
representing Cheshire Centre in Football, Netball, Volleyball and Tug of
war. His claim to fame was when his team ‘Tommie’s Babes’ won and
contributed a point towards the Cup which was presented to the Centre
Chairman.
He also entered his team at the Welsh National Rally, which the
Volleyball team usually won. Another achievement he was involved in
was entering the annual Raft Race at Audlem rowing along the canal to
the finish line at the Shroppie Fly, which they won.
After 24 years’ service for British Rail in Crewe Works, managing to work
his way up to be an inspector in the Traction shop Eddie decided he was
leaving.
He worked at ERF Sandbach in the Maintenance dept. and then was
given a job in the ‘Hut’ as he called it repairing the air tools. Part of his
job was ordering the tools needed throughout the factory, he really
enjoyed that especially the wheeling and dealing and banter with the
salesmen also the freebies. ERF then moved to a site in Middlewich
which he found wasn’t quite the same and closed as ERF in 2002.
As he could turn his hand to most things, Eddie did small jobs for friends
but Lynne told me that she always worried if ladders were involved as
invariably he fell off – thankfully he always bounced.

In 2003 Crewe Works were recruiting, he applied and returned to where
he left off in the Traction shop. In 2008 he was presented with his 25
years service award, just before he decided to retire.
He got a part time job as an Assistant Caretaker at Underwood West
Junior School. He loved seeing the children but I think the job was not
really what he expected he thought it would be more maintenance
based, not cleaning. When he was asked to clean the staff toilets that
was it, sorry No.
In1994 Eddie and Lynne celebrated their Silver Wedding and they
decided to start holidaying abroad – and shock horror- the caravan was
sold, they headed off for a holiday in Cuba.
Golf became his passion. He joined Reaseheath Golf Club, and he
enjoyed a game with his son and son in law. Over the years he was able
to play in Florida and Spain. When Reaseheath closed he joined
Sandbach Golf Club and continued the same routine and played with the
same set of friends from Reaseheath, Eddie used to say they were like
‘last of the summer wine’.
In 1997 Scott and Nicola were married, and in August 1998 Hannah was
born, the joy and happiness that having your first grandchild brings is
indescribable and it of course it means that she was showered with love
and little treats whenever possible.
In 1999 Sarah and Craig were married and James was born in the
December.
Eddie decided to teach James how to play golf and he became a junior
member of Reaseheath golf club. It wasn’t a great success as James
was too distracted looking for tees or balls lying about much to Eddies
annoyance he would say ‘I’m not taking him again” but he did.
June 2001 Ashley was born. He was a footballer, very much like his Dad
and Grandad. Eddie was always there on the touchline and delighted in
watching him play on a Saturday or Sunday in the league and
tournaments.
Of course, old habits die hard, and Eddie decided he would like another
caravan. Scott and Nicola had also bought a caravan as did Nicola’s
parents. They no longer rallied but travelled further afield to France,
Belgium and Holland. He grew tired of towing a caravan and decided to
permanently site a caravan at Llanberis and then Borth.

In 2002 Ellie was born she turned out to be very much like Eddie,
temperament wise. When she stayed over it was a battle of wills
between them as she would not eat, and he was adamant she would.
Many mornings you heard ‘I hate you Grandad’ but now the bond they
share became very different. ‘I love you Grandad’.
He was a loving and very proud Grandad. He admired his Grandchildren
and all their achievements as they progressed through life.
He loved Florida a place he visited many times staying mainly in
Orlando. His 60th birthday surprise was a trip to Daytona Racetrack,
which was something he always wanted to see.
Eddies life can be easily put into chapters, different quest and pursuits,
and in 2009 another chapter was written. He and Lynne embarked on
the world of cruising. This was another journey, unlike anything he had
ever experienced and one he took some persuading to embrace, as he
was adamant nobody would dictate what he wore, no fancy suits for him.
But he loved every minute of it especially the Black Tie nights.
He found it amazing that he could wake up and find himself in a new
place, a new destination. Over the years he and Lynne managed 26
cruises, which meant 378 nights aboard a ship!
Great times were had with Ged & Pam whom they met aboard the
Oriana in 2011 not knowing they were from Crewe. Many more cruises
were to follow in their company. Their trips ranged from 7 nights to 35
nights from Europe, the Baltic, Canada, Central America and the
Caribbean.
New Year’s Eve in New York was amazing, sailing down the Mississippi
into New Orleans and the helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. All
now cherished and dearly held memories of times which can not return
but will be reflected upon for many years to come.
Eddies last cruise in 2020, it was the start of his illness and also ‘Covid’
had arrived.
In May a Doctor explained that there was a cancerous nodule in his lung
also Emphysema was showing in both lungs, we were devastated. The
lockdowns had begun, the family wrapped him in their protective bubble,
always cautious in their approach, he mustn’t catch the virus as his
health was deteriorating.

As lockdown eased, Eddie decided it would be great to invest in a
Motorhome so they would be able to travel and be self sufficient!
Only he could come up with such a plan. In September 2021 the
Motorhome arrived, he was over the moon, they managed 2 outings
before the winter weather began to encroach and he planned for many
more after the winter months.
The last months were tough but he managed to play 9 holes of golf with
a buggy and his golf buddy Phil who became his carer on the golf
course. With the game finished it was into the club house for a beer and
a moan about the situation we were in. They would have made great
politicians!
On November 19th Eddie was admitted to South Cheshire hospital,
where on 24th November he silently slipped away – lost to your sight but
forever in your heart.

May he rest in peace.