Ron Danby ...the eulogy given at his funeral service.
Dad was born in Armley in Leeds. It was January 1922, just over 3 years after the end of the Great War. He was born into sadness; his elder sister Joan had died as an infant and when Dad came along, it must have seemed like a ray of sunshine to his grieving parents, who were still trying to put the war behind them.
Dad remained their only cherished child for 12 years, until he was joined by his beloved baby sister, Eileen.
Now, save for a couple of incidents in Dad's childhood we think he had a carefree time....... The first one ...as a young teenager he was out on his bicycle one day when he took the opportunity of holding on to the back of a lorry to help him on the steep upward incline on Wetherby Road. Unfortunately for Dad his opportunism did not go unnoticed by the local Bobby. Dad was duly cautioned back at his house in front of poor mother. The caution must have had the desired effect because as far as I know he never got into trouble again.
The second incident involved my dad’s teeth....they became badly affected by a medicine taken incorrectly... and at 14yrs old he wore a full set of false teeth
After attending St Michael's College in Leeds Dad became an apprentice electrician between 1938 and 1940. The Second World War caused him to curtail his studies. He joined the RAF in 1940 where he worked as an electrician until 1946.
As well as being stationed in northern parts of the UK he spent some time in India. It was during his RAF days that he honed his skills as an all-round entertainer. The Concert Party era was in full swing and Dad took great pleasure in entertaining the troops.
Following the War and returning to Leeds he was drawn to performing in pantomime with St Anne's Youth Group and it was there that he met my mum, Rosaleen. They were married, in Seacroft in February 1950.
They sang in St Anne's Cathedral choir and had many happy times performing in the local church productions and Leeds Amateurs,
Dad had a wonderful bass singing voice and loved nothing more than singing in harmony. In fact no occasion was quite complete in the Danby family unless it included a song....or two!
Dad would often call out “Keep thinking in G minor”...when we got stuck for harmonies.
Looking back it’s clear to me that Dad lived through a glorious time in Entertainment and Music +absorbed all the phrases and funny mannerisms from the old time music Hall right through to Morecambe and Wise. And dad of course was spoiled rotten with Mums musical abilities.
Dad also was also a confident and competent public speaker. He was a regular reader at Mass and in his later life did some Voice Over work.
Dad had always had a social conscience which was guided by his Catholic faith. Over many years he was part of the SVP society and discreetly helped distribute goods to those in need.
As Dad grew older he continued to make the most of life. After Mums passing, when dad had been living on his own for about 18 months, and I remember him saying 'I know now, that life won't come to me, l have to go out and get it..........that really impressed me and indeed he was as good as his word.
In his 80s he went on a computer course organised by OPAL and joined the Daytones Barbershop singing group which opened up a whole new word to him. He enjoyed many holidays abroad with Eileen and Peter. He also volunteered to make recordings for the blind and partially-sighted at the Shire View Centre.
Here is an extract from an email that Jim Hughes a good friend who sadly can’t be here.
'As I am unable to read print myself, Ron became my personal
reader for many years at Shire View, a Resource Centre in
Headingley for blind and partially-sighted people. Our reading
included personal correspondence, cd liners, extracts from books
and magazines, as well as the Braille labelling of recorded books
in Shire View's Library, where I was the librarian. Being Ron, it was
not just reading that was on the programme: there were his
incorrigible jokes which elicited laughter and groans in equal
measure (I think he enjoyed the groans most, deliberately
provoking them sometimes), and the many songs which seemed to be
prompted by the material we were reading-Ron and I had a vast
store of these in common since we were much of an age. The songs
included music-hall and pre-war numbers, wartime songs and songs
from post-war musicals, and they were invoked at the drop of a
hat, or even less! The songs frequently continued on our drives
home.
We frequently had meals together in Shire View's café and it was
Ron's habit after serving us to present us each with a serviette
without saying a word: we were never quite sure whether this was
a reproof for a lack of table manners or not; but we always
thanked him very deferentially!
Ron, with his quiet, gentle manner and helpful ways, got to know
many of the people at Shire View because he was so sociable and
had something to say to everybody.'
In 2010 Dad became less mobile and struggled to remain completely independent. It was then that the world had to come to him. In addition to family support, Cathy started helping with the 'housekeeping', and carers came to assist him. Maeve from befrienders visited him and they exchanged stories. Of his favourite carer, Tracy, he attached the phrase 'lost without Trace'. Always the charmer and good with words. By this time he had given up on the cryptic crosswords that had exercised his brain for many years and transferred his allegiance to number puzzles and jigsaws. During visits from family and friends the jigsaw pieces somehow fell into place while Dad looked on admiringly, never forgetting to insert the last piece.
For the last 12 months Dad was in Alwoodleigh Nursing Home in Huddersfield. He had his walls covered with photos of his beloved family and friends. Although increasingly frail, he still made new friends. That gift of connecting with people still endeared him to others.
The Daytones came to sing with and for him on Friday 10th October. It was a very special concert on the day and seems even more poignant now looking back. The following Monday he had the Doctor out and that week his health declined rapidly. Thankfully he did not suffer and died peacefully just 10 days later.
Dad had a wonderful life. He would not have wanted any sadness at his passing.
Let me finish by saying you are all welcome to join the family at Cookridge Golf Club for afternoon tea after the committal service at Lawnswood where hopefully we will be able to share a few more memories
The tribute to dad at the reception....
I’ll tell thee a tale of Ron Danby
A man modest, and faithful and true.
Who was born many years, back in Armley
Sadly died, - Huddersfield – 92.
As a lad he was keen but not sporty
And at school when he was dressed in full kit
The teacher would bawl out no chatting
And he stayed just topside of unfit.
He made the school team as a goalie
And we all know that goalies are mad
But standing around near the touchline
Well that probably suited me dad
I remember I got his old kit shorts
They were made from cloth that’s made to last
Hardwearing and clearly old fashioned
And I looked like throwback to t’past
But there’s no sour grapes from what happened
Yes we all know that money was tight
But we never were short of entertainment
We were laughing from morning till night.
A master at bending the language,
To suit any purpose or place
With a gesture to fill out the meaning
And a suitable look on his face.
And that’s how lived out his life dears
Charming all from the good to bad
Well the man always had proper manners
Which he had learned from his dear mum and dad.
Yes he’d no time for google or facebook
And to friendsreunited he said
There’s no point me looking on that thing
Coz all of mi schoolmates are dead.
And as age took a grip on his lifestyle
And his diary (all full of big blanks)
He still knew the essentials of giving
With a smile and look and a thanks.
So think on and think of dear Ronald
When your down and depressed and in gloom
And then maybe you’ll see what most folk see
A young man who could light up a room