Our loving memories of Ben

In Loving Memory

Thanks to all x

Such wonderful memories of a lovely, lovely man.

We will miss you Ben.

All our love to Diane and the family xx

I have many cherished childhood memories of visiting Aunty Dianne and Uncle Ben. Uncle Ben had a natural ability to connect with children and he always made us feel important and included by devising fun games for us to play - from golf putting in the garden to Shove Ha’penny on the bar ( he made smashing shandies too !) When it came time to leave, he would surreptitiously slip us a fiver so we could treat ourselves when we got home.
As an adult, I admired his innate ability to put people at ease. He was a natural and generous host who made everyone feel welcome. Ben was always smartly turned out but had a relaxed and friendly manner and a natural warmth. He was liked by everyone that met him- a rare quality.
His love for Dianne and their closeness as a couple was always evident and admired, as was his love for the family.
Ben was a very special Uncle. We were blessed to have him as part of our family and part of our lives. He will be fondly remembered and very much missed.

Ben was such a warm, friendly man and so welcoming to us when we moved to Penarth. Our children, Dave and Jen, were always happy to play in Ben and Dianne’s and had so many fun times with Katy and Sam. Ben always encouraging them to play games in the garden many involving water! We will miss him greatly.

I remember uncle Benny taking my sisters, Dee & Janet and cousin Ceri into St. Davids hospital & we were all very excited to meet our new baby sister Mandy and see our mum. When we arrived we were told we were not allowed on the ward. Poor Ben was stuck with 4 overe excited & very upset little girls stuck in the car for visiting time so he drove us out to Roath park where we had a lovely time bless him. When we got back we were upset again to find they changed their minds and we could have seen her. Poor Ben he was so kind to us! Ben, Di & Grampy & Ceri put up with us for 2 weeks while our mum was in hospital. Thank you to you all. To Di, Ceri and family we send our love and thoughts Ali, Anne, Dee, Janet & Mandy and families.

When Ben first came to call on Dianne, he was still at school with a summer time job as a deck chair attendant on Barry Island. They were to become "an item" for the rest of his life.
Ben had an open friendliness which allowed him to develop an easy rapport with people of all ages and made him easy to like. He soon became like an elder brother to me, a mentor through my early teenage years and a friend thereafter. He enjoyed organizing competitive games that brought fun to his friends and family from one generation to the next.
Ben's sudden departure from our lives is as sad as it was unexpected. We were lucky to have had him in our lives for as long as we did. May he remain young at heart in our memories.

When Benny and I were little we visited our great aunt Margaret, who brought our father up after his own mum died when he was 6. She lived in the tiniest house in Coldbrook with only a cold water tap in the back yard. Benny wouldn't eat the apple tart she made for us so our mum would kick him under the table. When we were due to leave mum would tell us to kiss our aunt goodbye but Benny said 'I'm not kissing her old whiskery face'.
We were on a bus with our mum going out and Benny was wearing an expensive smart coat which mum had put in mothballs to protect it. Benny didn't want to wear it as he hated the smell and was embarrassed. A man got on the bus and sat next to him then got off the next stop. Benny turned and shouted to mum and the whole bus 'see even he couldn't stand the smell'.

We visited our uncle Tom's poultry farm & Benny, jumped onto a mound thinking it was solid but he sunk into it to my mum's and aunt's horror. It was the chicken dung pile. He was not happy.

I’ve never met Ben but worked with Ceri for many years and the stories she told me about her family holidays etc

Ben was a real gentleman who always made you feel welcome. The consummate host and at the heart of his beautiful family.

Ben loved a red oaky Hardys Shiraz and we often compared notes on our fave bottles. This man never let your glass run dry, a brilliant host. Will always remember playing croquette in the sunshine in Dianne and Bens garden. Holidays to centerparcs. Slipping you a tenner every time you saw him like grandads do! He will be sorely and truly missed. Good night Ben 😞 xxx

Miss you gramp x