Yesterday I attended the funeral of Beryl Jones.

I have often reflected, and now in my dotage, I get to go to funerals of people I once knew well and respected on a regular basis. Besides paying my respects to the deceased, I meet old friends who I haven’t seen for a long time and we might wonder which of us will be next?

Beryl was special, not least because she died a month short of her one hundredth birthday, surviving her late husband, Bryn, by 37 years. She was almost the last of a remarkable generation that was part of a church, Coleman Street Chapel, that had played such an important part in my own life. In the past year, I can think of four of its stalwarts, each of whom had made a big impact on my own life, who had died: David Iles, Geoff Hayman, Paul Bullivant and Barry Owen. As I shared with some of my peers from yesteryear, it is a changing of the guard and those left must carry on the torch and pass on some of the legacy that they had left to the next generation.

As often happens on such occasions, one is reminded about the life of the person being remembered. Beryl was the one child of Len and May Ladd. I mention this because Len was the grandson of William Iles, who is credited as being the founder of Coleman Street Chapel and is part of the Iles legacy that I reflected on in my recently posted article: “Reflecting on “Chief men among the Brethren” and my three unlikely choices” (see here). Len was a gracious and humble man, I much respected, who had encouraged me in my youth. Beryl was only 14 when World War 2 began and, rather than being evacuated, she stayed at home with her parents throughout the War. It was toward the end of the War when she met her husband to be, then a soldier in the army, who for a time was billeted in Southend. Before returning to Beryl, I should say a few words about Bryn, for he played an important part in my own life.

I think it was around 1964, as a thirteen-year-old, when I began my lifetime involvement with Coleman Street Chapel, and that started with my attending its Boy Covenanter (combining Bible and recreational related activities) group. The group was led by Bryn and it played an important part in my coming to faith and my involvement with the Chapel until it closed in 2013. Strictly speaking, I should have been thrown out of the group for as I was naughty boy but Bryn felt led to persist with me. One amusing related incident that happened many years later was to do with the time when Bryn contacted my mother regarding my behaviour and my mother pointed out that a reason for my misbehaviour was because I was bored. Beryl would later tell my mother that she agreed with her at the time! I had a number of dealings with Bryn and Beryl after then, up to the time I left Southend in 1977. They were active at the Chapel. Among other things, Bryn was an elder and Beryl played the organ. I found them both to be a source of much encouragement, especially after the charismatic movement came to town with its message of renewal. By the time I returned to Southend and later rejoined the Chapel in 1988, they had earlier left for pastures new and it was around that time Bryn died.

In the years following, my connections with Beryl were irregular and few yet memorable. We met at different church related events. It happened that her son, Graham, had a solicitor’s practice and he became my solicitor. Beryl worked at the practice (doing so until well after retirement age) particularly when it came to book keeping and accounts, which she was well qualified to do. On the occasions we did meet, we would reminisce and catch up (she was interested in what I was doing) and she was welcoming and encouraging. When I wrote the history of the chapel around the turn of the millennium, Beryl was a great source of information with her memories of how things were, having been part of Chapel life from soon after her birth. Her reflections were especially helpful, combining insight, humour and kindness. I found her sharp in her thinking and independent in her living, never ditching that gracious nature that was her hallmark. I am glad, this year, my wife and I paid a visit to Beryl. While she was frail, it was a joyous occasion. 

The service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the Life of Beryl May Jones was a heart-warming occasion and was attended by a number, still around, from my early days at the chapel. Many of them are active in Christian service and part of the reason for that was the example and prayers of Bryn and Beryl Jones. As often happens on such occasions, I found the tributes given to be a highlight. These confirmed some of the things I knew already but also added much that I did not know.  One thought that stuck out came from a former school mate, who introduced me to Covenanters all those years ago, Peter Marret. Peter who was brought up, from as a boy, at the Chapel, pointed out that while, when it came to things such as doctrinal soundness, the Chapel had much to commend it, yet sometimes the life that should go with it was missing. When it came to Bryn and Beryl, they lived the life and for that he was thankful.  We thank God for Beryl and what she meant to so many.