I first met Neil and his great family when his mum died. I had just been appointed Curate of Grove (vicar apprentice) and my vicar told me I would be taking my first funeral - Neil’s mum!

You dont want any mistakes at a funeral and some newbie, with a brand new dog collar was a very big risk! But Neil knew my vicar well and because Neil was always an encourager, he allowed me to officiate. You never forget your first funeral and from that day on, we bonded. 
   Neil has serviced our electrical goods in Grove and when I moved to be vicar of Stanford, there was no way Id use anyone else. Always 100% trust worthy and reliable. Never got you paying for something you didnt need. And whilst on a job, hed often get calls by other engineers seeking his expertise. He was always happy yo hekp because the customer came first.

I hope all of Neil’s customers will continue to use Josh, Neil’s son, who joined the business a few years back, is also an excellent engineer, and has all of Neil’s values and principles.

Oh and funerals? As a result in Neil’s confidence in me, in the following 3.5 years in Grove I went on to take 284 funeral/ashes services, recommended by word of mouth, and was later recommended by the Bishop of Oxford to sit on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s ‘The Funerals Project’ Task Force, and now I help train other clergy in taking funerals and I stopped counting the number of funerals 400. All because Neil believed in helping others fulfil their calling, and giving them a helping hand.

Sadly in my job you hear of lots of parishioners dying. Neil’s death deeply touched me. I shall greatly miss the gentle giant of a man and shall never forget him as every funeral I take, I always remember my first, and always remember Neil.

My love and prayers go to his family and Neil, may you rest in peace.

Revd Paul A. Eddy, Vicar of Stanford 2013-, Curate of Grove 2009-2023.