Ronald Pickstock

“Memories are precious they don’t go away, we think of you always and not just today”

Ron passed away peacefully in the care of Mayfield House Nursing Home aged 93 years.
The devoted husband of the late Barbara.

Ron’s funeral took place on Tuesday 11th January 2022 at Crewe Crematorium Chapel at 10.45am.

Kind donations are going to the R.S.P.C.A & Macmillan.

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

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Ron was a fine, kindly, gentleman with a caring heart. Always smartly dressed, with slick brylcreamed hair, not one single hair out of place.  In his early days a sportsman who belonged to a badminton club and played badminton to a good level. A weightlifter. In recent years a fan of Emmerdale, not quite so strenuous!

He was content to live most of his life in Crewe, having spent his earliest years in Winsford. What massive changes he has seen over that period!

Ron made a very happy marriage to Barbara Birch in March 1959 in St Barnabas Church. They were to enjoy so much together over many years, not least their regular trips to Llandudno or Barmouth staying always in the same hotel. They never had children – which is a shame because they would have made loving caring parents. Still, their dogs, such as the black Poodle Queenie, were the beneficiaries who received all the loving care!

Ron lost his beloved Barbara in August 2014. But we believe they are now reunited, and a symbol of that is that Ron’s ashes will in due course be interred with hers.

Ron has been well loved and served by family members and friends. We thinking especially of his sister-in-law Joan and nieces Heather, Nicky and Juliana and Barry, Juliana’s husband, not forgetting great-nieces and nephews – Kayleigh, Laura, Lewys, Katie, Adam and David.  I would also like to mention friends and neighbours over the years – people like Myra and Julia and their families. All these folk loved Ron too, and neighbours had appreciated how Ron had been good neighbour to them when he was fit.

There were various communities to which Ron was proud to belong. These were additional families. He was a friend and colleague to many and he became part of those communities or wider family. His infectious laugh and dry sense of humour served him well in his life. He could make the world chuckle. He was a welcome face.

Mayfield was the latest family. Here over these past 2 years Ron had been a favourite amongst the staff team. He in turn always spoke highly of  those who kindly took the time to chat with and care for him. He would have brightened up their day. The family think the staff were amazing and want  to express their thanks to them all.

Ron found community/family in the angling community. He used to be a member of many local angling clubs – and fishing is not just about catching fish – there is the meeting up and chatting – “Who has caught the biggest Carp?” would  be one of the talking points. Since retiring, Ron was out nearly every day patiently waiting for a bite.

In his regular visits to Morrisons he got to know most of the staff by name. Staff like Shirley, Julie and Bev would always greet him with a smile and have a little chat. A meal in the Morrisons cafe was a pleasant social aspect of a shopping visit. So Morrisons was another sort of family.

We all need each other, we all depend on each other. That is the life of any human fellowship or family. Ron understood all that. That way of thinking and acting is a take-away for all of us.

Ron made the best of things – which contributed to his contentment, as did his wide interests and skills.

For example, he knew about plumbing, having served his apprenticeship and worked 25 years for Thelwalls the Plumbers until he was made redundant. Then at Rolls Royce until retirement.

There’s his love of the motorbikes he owned when he was younger – like his BSA and Enfield.

There’s his love of cars. He took great pride and interest in his motors. A special favourite had been his Ford Capri – the car Ford advertised “you have always promised yourself” back in the 1970’s. He may have become a bit erratic in his driving in recent years before he wisely gave up a few years ago. But he had a substitute! His scooter or chariot as he called it which whistled around the park leaving others in the dust. Not quite a Capri, but close!

There’s his interest in photography, which fed his appreciation of beautiful scenery and wildlife.

Fishing has already been mentioned. This was a serious business. He made his own bait boilers and took pride in his rods and reels – even though he had to keep them in the garage by order of Barbara who objected to the smell. He used to enter many fishing matches.

So we could say Ron found interest in the world around him. His interests and actions suggest that he appreciated the world around him, and had gratitude in his heart to others and the Creator of it all.

He was most appreciative of all the support and love family and others have given him, and would thank you for your care and time.

They, in turn, look back with gratitude to what they learned from Ron, and will be better people for having known him. Not just close family, for all who knew him, whether still with us or not, stand in his debt in the sense that they are better people for having known him.

Some great memories abide. Nieces remember that Ron always made them feel welcome when visiting. The tea and biscuits. Those lunchbreaks when Ron would have prepared a Kershaws meal (probably his favourite was Liver and Bacon) timed to perfection on what he called his “Pinger and Dinger”, or the  Chicken New Yorker pre-ordered at The Four Eagles – mushy peas please, but no tomatoes thanks. He knew what he wanted!

So, bearing in mind that love is stronger than death (“The power of love” was sung by Jennifer Rush at the beginning of the service as a reminder) all who love Ron await the day when they will see him and Barbara again reunited. A million love songs tell you that love has an eternal dimension. Hold on to that idea and you won’t go far wrong.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.