David Jones

“Nothing on earth will ever replace, the sound of your voice or the smile on your face”

David passed away on 3rd June 2021 after a long illness at St Luke’s Hospice, Winsford aged 90years.
Beloved Husband of the late Verleen. Much loved Dad of Deborah, Graham, Adele & Ellen.  Also a Cherished & Respected Grandad & Great Grandad, Brother-in-law, Father-in-Law, Work Colleague & Friend who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

David was born in Salford on the 21st June 1930 the youngest of 5 children to David and Ellen Jones.

The only son he had 4 sisters, Ann Evelyn, Moira and Margaret. Sadly neither Evelyn nor Moira survived childhood, both at separate times dying of tuberculosis.

At the age of 9with the threat of war just around the corner was evacuated in the first evacuation known as Project Pied Piper and found himself on a farm in Tunstall in Cumbria.

The farmer and his wife had no children to play with so his days were filled with doing chores before and after school, looking after his 3 legged dog, his horse, feeding the pet lambs and collecting the eggs. It was a very rural existence after Salford and gave him a lifelong love of the countryside. The farmer always insisted on calling him Goliath and so fond of him had they become they asked to adopt him, something his mother fiercely disallowed.

Returning home after at the end of the war he returned to school where he rekindled his friendship with Frank Sargeant and apparently went from being a quiet and passive boy to a mischief no doubt aided by Frank who became his lifelong friend, they even, much to Ellen’s irritation invented their own secret language.

Following school he secured an apprenticeship as a mechanic although this was curtailed by his call up for National Service.

Family legend dictates that he was asked by the recruiting officer his name and on replying Jones David the officer immediately seconded him to the Welsh Guards.

He was extremely proud of his time in the Guards posting Sentry at such places as Buckingham Palace,  Clarence House and the Tower of London.

Indeed he was on duty the night Prince Charles was born and both he and his colleagues were rewarded the next morning by a silver crown by the Queen Mother. A coin he never relinquished, keeping it in his possession to this day.

On leaving his National Service he decided not to return to his mechanic apprenticeship as someone had been appointed to cover him and he felt it unfair to usurp him.

Meanwhile following a chance conversation with a friend he applied to Salford fire service, was accepted, and commenced his role in 1951.

During this time he had met and eventually married his beloved Verleen. Living initially with his parents they went on to be offered a house on the fire station square and had 3 children Debbie, Graham and Adele.

Following Salford he took up the role of sub officer at Stalybridge, working extra jobs as a window cleaner and undertaker assistant, affording all the family their first holiday abroad to Majorca. How devastated he must have been when he asked the children on the return flight if they wanted to return to Majorca the following year or their usual caravan trip to Scarborough and was met with a resounding Scarborough, such were their happy memories of just being with him.

From here he and the family moved to Winsford as a Sub Officer and it was  here that David and Verleen had their 4th child Ellen, an unexpected but very welcome surprise.

This in turn led to further promotion to Northwich and then Macclesfield as an ADO (Assistant Divisional Officer)and eventually culminating as DO(Divisional Officer) at Crewe in December 1976 leading to him completing his career 31st  May 1983.

This was not before he received his long service and good conduct medal in 1971.

Followed a time working as Fire Safety Officer for British Gas, a time in his career he thoroughly enjoyed to the full. Here he revisited the sailing bug he had started whilst sailing on The Flashes at Winsford and trips to Menai  via the British Gas yacht sailing fleet which led to him attaining one of the highest sailing qualifications, that of Yachmaster.

Following their move to Crewe for the first time David and Verleen set down their eventual permanent roots and discovered a new love, foreign travel, something they never tired of. Indeed upon his retirement they booked numerous cruises and exotic travel. The most exciting of which was to embark on a round the world trip to celebrate his 60th birthday.

Sadly on 12th August 2016, following a long illness yet well fought battle, his beloved Verleen died at home surrounded by their children and theirs spouse’s and as he wished in his arms.

Following her death all his children rallied around him, all getting to know more about this private and unassuming man. One of his weekly highlights were his Saturday morning calls from Mary, Verleens last remaining sibling. He often spoke of how Mary and her twin Peter could not really remember a time not having him in their lives and how much he truly loved her.

 

The following almost 5 years consisted of him spending quality time with all his children and they in turn getting to truly know this incredible man.

His and Verleens legacy: 4 children, 8 grandchildren and …so…far … 4 great grandchildren through whom they will continue to live on.

An amazing husband, Daddy, Grandad, great Grandad, brother, brother in law, father in law, uncle and Great uncle, colleague and friend.

The Salford Lad did good and certainly lived up to His childhood nickname

BIG DAVE

 

His funeral will take place on Thursday 17th June at St Michaels & All Angels Parish Church, Crewe Green at 11am followed by Committal at Crewe Crematorium.

Family flowers only and donations in memory of David are going to St Luke’s Hospice, Winsford.

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