Eulogy/Tribute to Ernest Edward Parsons – 18th December at Guildford Crematorium 2020

My father Ernest Edward Parsons was born in Plymouth on 17 October 1921 the second child to Elizabeth Selina Parsons (former name Drake) and Edward Parsons.  He had a sister, Sylvia who was around 3 years older and a stepbrother, Lenard Drake, who was 5 years older from Elizabeth’s former marriage.  Sylvia had a marvellous singing voice and in dad’s words ‘the voice of an angel’. His father Edward Parsons was a petty officer in the Royal Navy serving at sea.  He suffered devasting injuries whilst in service on the seas resulting in a silver plate in his skull.  He suffered violent episodes and was not able to take care of the family.  His mother Elizabeth regrettably became an alcoholic and was no longer able to care for the children.  The authorities decided that all children should be sent to a children’s home.  His chum told his mother Nelly Foster. Both Nelly and Sam Foster soon became Dad and Sylvia’s Foster Parents.  His brother Leonard went into a home but visited them often.   These were happy times when they were all together.  Sam Foster was a farmer by profession and had several jobs as Manager (custodian) on farms which included Brickhouse Farm, Essex and finally ending up at Nightingale Hall Farm, Grinstead Green, near Earls Colne, Essex.  Early life for dad was tough, there were long hours on the farm and lots of chores. Early school life was in Grinstead Green, Essex. His teachers were Miss Isom and Miss Butcher and most pupils attended from the ages of 5 to 14.  Dad left when he was 13 years old as he was required to work on the farm. Work on the farm was exhausting, long hours and which continued for some years.  Prior to leaving school Sam Foster came home with two Shetland ponies, called Betty and Sooty.  Later another welcome surprise followed he was taken down to one of the barns where he found pony traps, a little type of wagon which people used to go shopping in with their horses or ponies and they were to use it to go to school.  Such joy! This journey was 2 miles. To earn extra money, he worked in an iron foundry in Earls Colne, but this was exhausting and not sustainable for a long period. Later he did go back to visit his father, who he recalls was really a kind, loving man, loved poetry and left him his poetry book (green suede, bound). I have it now and was caretaker of it for over 40 years. One day the owner of Nightingale Farm was introduced to Dad, his name was Mr Lesley.  He had changed his name by deed poll from Parsons to Lesley, the surprise was that he was his uncle! He had married a nurse in one of the London Hospitals and her name was Doris.  They had two sons Paul (eldest) and Chic.  They now had an auntie and uncle. His brother joined the armed forces and fought in Burma, in the jungle during which time he picked up an illness and soon died.  A point came when dad was wanting more from life and his uncle was instrumental in getting him an interview with the RAF, 16 Victory House, Kingsway, London.  He joined the RAF at the end of 1938/39 and attended training at RAF Drayton.  On completion of his training, he was sworn in and attended flight training school as an engineer, RAF South Wales. Later joined 242 squadron based at Tangmere, Duxford, with the legless pilot Douglas Bader, and was eventually made responsible for his plane. After the war he was de-mobbed, no family to go to and now had to find work. Just before he was released into civilian life, he met this lovely 16-year-old girl at a local dance.  Her name was Muriel Emery and they fell madly in love and were married the day before her 19th Birthday on 15 June 1946.  Her father George Emery was a fine engineer who designed and built engines and cars for motor racing.  Emeryson Cars, his sons Paul and Peter also joined him including dad for a short period of time. Paul went on to race against the likes of Stirling Moss at Brands Hatch.  Muriel (my mother) worked as a housekeeper for The Faireys who owned Fairy Aviation Company based in Hayes, Middx (1947 to 1953).  Dad worked for them on the famous Gyrodyne Twin Prop Helicopter.  Our first home was a double decker bus which dad converted into a comfortable home.  Later we moved to a house which he had built himself called ‘Linard’ after me (Linda) and my brother Richard.  We moved a couple more times and ended up with Grandad Emery at the Anchorage.  We moved to Canada for 3 months, followed by California a few months later.  Dad secured a job at Hiller Helicopters and we lived in Freemont, California until 1957 when we moved to Jamaica where dad started working as chief engineer for a company responsible for spraying crops, in particular Bananas.  We lived just outside Kingston but went to school in Kingston.  We had to return to the UK because dad got sick, he developed yellow jaundice and it was decided for his own interest it would be best to return to the UK. My brother Michael was born just a few weeks before we departed on a banana boat back to the UK around June 1958.  What next? Well dad decided to take up building.  Studied and learned by watching other builders.  My grandfather had land at the Anchorage which was our anchor or base where we lived off and on for a few years.  This was the start of a profession that lasted him for the rest of his life.  He built us a lovely family home called Monterey and in 1967 he sold the property to Norman Newall a well-known songwriter/composer who remained there until he died.
We move to Camberley, then back to Crowthorne when Mum went back to her old profession as a window dresser but this time in her own shop called Carol Ann (nicknamed C&A!)  Dad retired and took up golf and by this time he was in his early 50’s.  He was a natural.  After a difficult period during their marriage they separated and divorced around 1974/75 after 25 years of marriage.  Dad met someone else who later became his wife Pamela Margaret Rowles.  They married in 1993 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1975 Pam and Dad moved to El Paraiso in Spain, renting an apartment in Patio Alcornocal near Marbella.  In the period 1978 to 1985 Pam, Robin (Pam’s son) and Dad built 80 apartments and 6 villas, including two for Pam & Dad and one for Jimmy Tarbuck.  Dad was a member of the Las Brisas Golf club and played with James Hunt, Sean Connery, Bruce Forsyth, Ronnie Corbet, Jimmy Tarbuck, one of the Kings of Malaysia (D.Y.M.M. Tuanku Yang Dipertuan Besar). Dad played at his Royal Silver Jubilee Invitational Golf Tournament 30th April 1992. They were flown to Malaysia in the Kings private jet.  In 1989/90 Pam and Dad sold their main villa and moved to an apartment in Puerto Banus.
In 1991 they left Spain and moved to USA, PGA West, Palm Desert, California. This was not a wise move, despite legal advice, they pressed ahead with an investment of half a million dollars in a development project, golf course, apartments, and a casino. After a long legal battle with the help of Robin who had to relocate his family to Florida. They recovered from these unsavoury entrepreneurs a night-club in Orlando. Star Acts that appeared in the club included KC and the Sunshine Band, Keanu Reeves in Dogstar, Robert Palmer, Snoop Doggy Dogg, The great White, The Red-Hot Chilli Peppers and The Specials.  In 1998 they transferred this lease to another night-club from Panama City.
In 2000 they returned to Spain, sold their London property in Lowndes Square to enable them to buy a villa. When they lost their investment with a German, they were forced to sell their villa and move into a rented apartment in the San Pedro area.
 In 2010 they returned to England and moved into Heather mead Court. Pam died in December 2015 from Breast Cancer.  Dad remained on his own for the next 4 years until November 2019 when he had a bad fall which resulted in a bleed on the brain. He was paralysed down his left side but with true grit and determination he regained his ability to walk but his vascular decline got the better of him and he died peacefully in a nursing home in Cobham.  The staff were amazing, and he managed to celebrate his 99 birthdays before he died on 13th November 2020.
From humble beginnings he led an interesting, privileged, and varied life. He was a very amiable person, always very elegant and a real gentleman.  He always had plenty of funny stories to tell and was a dear friend to all those who had the chance to meet him.
From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank all his friends at Heather Mead Court, local and overseas.  He has certainly left a big hole in my heart and my brothers. At least we had the pleasure of spending value time with him visiting the theatre, music events, vineyards, Sunday lunches and lovely restaurants. God bless you dad. Love you forever.