Hundreds pay final respects to Flackwell Heath legend (From This Is Local London)

Hundreds pay final respects to Flackwell Heath legend Harry Merryweather

3:18pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Where I Live By Simon Farr

WAR veteran Harry Merryweather was given a hero’s send off as about 200 people flocked to pay their final respects at his funeral.

Family members, friends and comrades packed out Christ Church in Flackwell Heath today to bid farewell to the Second World War hero.

The 89-year-old – famed and celebrated for raising more than £40,000 for the Poppy Appeal – passed away at his Fennels Way home last month.

Standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and Wycombe and District Royal Artillery Association led the coffin into the church at 10.30am. It was draped in a Union Jack and Mr Merryweather’s numerous war medals.

The RBL’s Shield of Honour - won twice by Mr Merryweather – took pride of place next to a photo of the Londoner, who moved to Bucks in 1938.

Reverend Christopher Bull led the service.

He told the congregation: “On behalf of Harry’s family, thank you for being here to celebrate Harry’s life.

“He was a great friend, a loving family member...and such a character and presence in the community.”

The first hymn of the service, My King Of Love My Shepherd Is, was flawlessly sung by the congregation – it was chosen by Mr Merryweather.

Rev Bull then told mourners about Mr Merryweather’s incredible life story, about how he lied about his age so he could enrol into the armed services.

He was posted to the electrical engineers in London and helped operate search lights in the capital during the Blitz.

He served in North Africa and Italy from 1942, and in 1946 he met Violet Bryant in Flackwell, who he married before they had daughter Pamela.

Rev Bull said “the army was in Harry’s blood” and told how he went back to serve in the SAS for four years, where he reached the rank of corporal.

After standing down from the forces, Mr Merryweather went on to set up his own building firm in south Buckinghamshire.

The congregation then laughed when Rev Bull told how Mr Merryweather grabbed his saw and cut up a large tree which blocked a road in the village “while everyone else was standing around wondering what to do”.

Chairman of the Flackwell Heath RBL George O’Leary then stood up to pay his tributes for the man who collected money for the Poppy Appeal for 20 years after his beloved Violet died.

He said: “Harry was very generous with his support of the RBL and with his poppy collecting; he would be out collecting whatever the weather.

“He showed me his map, setting it out as if it were a military campaign, he had it all worked out.

“I would see him most mornings shopping for himself and for his neighbour.

"He would say to me it takes ten minutes to attend the shops and an hour to get home. I am sure people will miss that cheery talk.”

Rev Bull read out a tribute from Harry’s only child Pamela Saunders: “Dearest daddy, you have shown me many qualities; your courage, your strength, determination and most of all, your love.

“I am so proud of you. You set a very high bar - I will do my best to live up to it. God bless daddy.”

A tribute from Mr Merryweather’s two grandchildren was read to the packed church by Rev Bull.

They talked about how they will always hold “great memories” of their time together and the lessons he taught them.

The two family tributes reduced many people in the congregation to tears before the service was concluded with the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful – the song Harry picked to play at his wife’s funeral.

Poem For The Fallen was recited by the RBL’s county president Ken Ross before the haunting trumpet of the Last Post rang out around the church.

A minute’s silence was then impeccably observed by mourners before the standard bearers led the coffin out of the church to the sounds of We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn.

The committal service was held at the Little Marlow Cemetery before friends and family headed back to the Flackwell Heath Royal British Legion in Common Road for the wake.

Mr Ross said: “Today has been a wonderful day to remember Harry. He was a larger than life person despite being of small stature.

“He carried out outstanding service for the Poppy Appeal, the country, the Queen and we will all remember him with happy memories and know he had a good life and the support of a good family.

“I have many happy memories of Harry, he was always cheerful, always having a laugh and the whole village had the upmost respect for him.

“There are 98 streets in Flackwell, he went to every door. This tribute and service shows just how much everyone loved and respected Harry.”

Mary Harding, vice chairman of the Flackwell Heath RBL, knew Mr Merryweather for more than 20 years.

She said: “He will be greatly missed. I think I was the last person to work with him in the run up to Remembrance Day.

“He called all the ladies sweetheart and was a bit of a ladies’ man, he was kind, he was hardworking, he was dedicated. He was a lovely, lovely man.”