2008 Harold May

The following is the obituary of Harold Robert May, written by Gordon May, (his brother) and published in 'Hallmark' :- ( click Gordon & Vera May for more about Gordon)

Harold was born at Darvill's Hill in 1930. From a very young age, he showed a great interest in animals and a great love was to walk Springer Spaniels on the Pink Hill. He belonged to the 81st Club and was a strong supporter of Iain Rennie Nurses.

He attended Lacey Green School from 5 to 14 years and, in the holidays and evenings helped on Charlie Green's farm, working there on a permanent basis after leaving school, until the age of 26. Harold then moved to work at Dell Brothers, builders, as a labourer until 1967, when he took up a position with his brother Gordon, at E Milner (HW) Ltd, then at Oxford Road but later in Short Street. He stayed at the Decorator's Merchants until his retirement at the age of 65.

Over many years, at various public houses, he assisted as barman in the evenings and weekends, particularly at The Queens Head, Hazelmere, The Full Moon at Little Kingshill and the main one was The Pink and Lily, with Ciss and Ken Fletcher. This is a public house where most people, including police, councillors and various old boys and cricketers around the villages, got to know Harold.

From the earliest time of his life, he attended Lacey Green Methodist Church, where he made maximum attendance records. Harold carried on attending church services for most of the rest of his life and was very upset at the closure of the Lacey Green Methodist Church. He was too stubborn to find an alternative church for worship.

When the Pink and Lily changed hands, Harold continued his great friendship with Ciss and Ken when they moved to their new address in Lacey Green, supporting them in their retirement and after Ken died, he remained good friends with Ciss, taking her shopping and she reciprocated by cooking for him.

He died very suddenly in Stoke Mandeville Hospital after an internal operation, which, in itself was successful but he went down quite quickly with pneumonia and died on Easter Sunday morning 23rd March 2008. Harold was cremated at Amersham Crematorium on Monday 7th April, attended by approximately 200 people and afterwards at the Gate, Bryants Bottom.

The family would like to thank all the people who have supported them at this time, especially close neighbours in Westlands Road and Tony Cooper, who conducted the service.