KATHRYN ANN PEARCE

(nee STAGG)

I would like to tell you about an amazing Lady that I met at Victoria Coach Station on 4th May 1987. Kathryn Ann Stagg was born on 1st August 1964 to Lawrence and Veronica Stagg at Hengrove in Bristol, she was Baptised on 29th November 1964 at St Martins, Knowle. 

                                                                      Early Years

Kathy attended Hengrove Secondary school from 1975 to 1981, she left after passing her GCE 'O' Levels in English Language, Principles of Accounts, Biology, History, Geography and passing her CSE in English Literature, French, German and Mathematics. Kathy then went onto further education at Brunel Technical College in Bristol from 1981 to 1982 where she got her City and Guilds 709 Hotel Reception, after getting her qualifications she went to work at the Arnos Court Hotel, Bristol where she became Head Receptionist. Between 1984 to 1990 Kathy joined The Bristol United Press where she became a Sales Canvasser, she then left the company in 1990 to move to Newbury.

In June 1991 she joined The Newbury Weekly News as a Deputy Telesales Supervisor, then in 1992 she got promoted to Telesales Super, then in 1996 Kathy was promoted to Advertisement Supervisor and in 1997 she left to take up Part-Time work. In November 1997 Kathy took up a Part-Time position at Newey & Eyre, then in March 1998, she was made redundant.

In May 1998 Joined Aramark as a Sales Researcher, she left the company after being made redundant in October 2002.

In 2002-03 Kathy joined West Berkshire council and she was there until her passing in March 2012.

When Kathy Passed away I received plenty of cards from her work colleague at the West Berkshire Council saying "how much they missed and she was always there to help them out and they missed her happy face in the morning when they went in". Hearing that made me so proud her, until this day when I meet some of her ex-colleague they still say" when their trouble we always say, Kathy would know what to do".

Reflections Of A Life

                                                                  A Chance Meeting

On Saturday 4th May 1987 I was with a couple of friends making our way back to catch a coach after seeing Tottenham Hotspur thrash Manchester United 4-0, seeing we were a bit early for our my coach we decided to go for a walk and it was a good job too.

We walked past this Gorgeous young lady and her friend and straight away she caught my eye, when we got back to the coach station she was there with her friend, so we got chatting and all we found out was that she and her friend worked for a newspaper in Bristol. When we got back to Newbury we found out a couple of addresses for two newspapers in Bristol and wrote a letter saying" we would like to get in touch with these two female Tottenham supporters, so we sent the letters off, two weeks later we got a reply and from then on we were a couple. We had only been going out for just over 3 months and on my Dads birthday 20th August she asked me...yes asked me to marry her and I wasted no time telling I would be honoured. Next morning she teased me by saying "I was drunk and can't remember". I remember some of the people she knew said: "It won't last as you've only been going out for a few months". We set a date of 15th October 1988 and the wedding would take place at St Peters Church in Portishead, and the reception would be held at The Cadbury Country Club Hotel at Watton. At the time I was working as a Postman delivering mail to Headley in Hampshire and Kathy was working in Advertising for The Bristol Evening Post. We decided that just before we got married I would move down to Portishead.  Then the big day arrived and I couldn't wait to marry this wonderful person, I remember that morning I wasn't one bit nervous. My best man was my Brother Keith and Kathy had six Bridesmaids made up of three of her Nieces and three from my side, they were from her side, Rochelle, Sarah and Leanne and from my side, Emma, Lisa and Michelle and her Best friend Kay was the Maid of Honour. The day went like clockwork and I was the proudest man on Earth. Our first two nights as a married was at the Avon Gorge Hotel which looked on to the Clifton suspension bridge. We spent our Honeymoon down in Cornwall and for that Time of year, we had two gorgeous weeks. In 1990 we decide to move back to Newbury where I rejoined the Royal Mail and Kathy got a Job in Advertising on the local newspaper The Newbury Weekly News, then in October 1992 when I was getting over a major operation after having a tumour removed from my hamstring we found out that Kathy was expecting a baby due to arrive in early August, so then it was "what names will we get for ?" in the end we choose if it was a Girl it would be Rebekka Ann or if it was a Boy it would Benjamin Darrin. The time of finding that a baby on its way we had just moved into a new one bedroom house, talk about bad timing. Then in the early hours of 22nd of July 1993, Kathy waters broke and on the 24th July Rebekka Ann Pearce was born at  12.07am weighing in at 7lb 2oz and from that day she had me around her little finger. We were married for over 21 years and we had plenty of ups and downs, but this just made us stronger, we hardly argued in all those years. In that time Kathy had a couple of miscarriages which wasn't the best of times. Kathy enjoyed going down to Cornwall and to Greece for her holidays, she liked nothing better than sat overlooking the sea with a pint in her hand.



Kathy Looking Towards St Michaels Mount At Marazion, Cornwall

Kathy was a loving, caring and thoughtful sort of person, my side of the family took to her as soon as they met her, my sister said: "Kathy is like a sister she never had".
Kathy liked going out for a drink and having something to eat, when people came around to our house she would always have food in the freezer and the 10 mins that the people were going to stay turned into 5 hours.
Kathy liked nothing better than to be sat out on the patio looking out over the fields at the bottom of the garden with a glass of wine in her hand and also have some candle burning.



Kathy With Her Candles And Wine

                                                           
                                                                   Three Short Months

In the middle of January 2010 Kathy was walking to the car and slipped on the snow, next day she was complaining of a pain in her chest, we weren't too concerned as we thought she had pulled a muscle. On Sunday 17th January we went down to Clevedon in North Somerset to visit her Father who was Celebrating his 80th birthday, little did we know what the next few days would have in store?.
The following day Kathy went to see her Doctor who sent her to the Royal Berks Hospital in Reading, that day we had some X-Rays done and she would stay in Hospital overnight.
On Tuesday 19th January whilst I was visiting her the Doctor came to see her, we were given the devastating news that some small shadows had shown up on her Lungs and they thought she had secondary Lung Cancer and it was probably terminal. The news came as such a shock we couldn't believe it, after a few tears Kathy composed herself. When I went up to collect the next day she told me "since I received the news I've been making plans of my funeral", she knew what music she wanted and where she wanted her ashes buried, this is the sort of woman Kathy was.
The problem was they couldn't find where cancer had started, she had some more scans done up in Reading and they still couldn't see anything until a specialist notice a small shadow on the X-Ray of her buttock. In February Kathy was referred to the Nuffield Orthopedic Hospital in Headington, Oxford, she had some more scans and a biopsy done, she was then referred to the Churchill Hospital in Headington, Oxford.



Taken In February a Month before She Was Taken From Us

We got the results back from the biopsy and they found out she had a very rare tumour, the spooky bit is that I had the same rare tumour in my leg back in 1991 and was told: "only one in forty million people have this tumour". In the middle of February, Kathy decided she wanted she The Phantom of the Opera one last time, so on the 9th March 2010 we went up to London for the day and finished up at Her Majesties Theatre.



Kathy Seen Here with Rebekka At Leicester Square, This Is The Last Photo I Took Of Her

Programme

Time To Say Goodbye

On Saturday 13th March Kathy's Mother came up to stay with us for the week to give her rest from looking after Kathy's Father who had dementia, we were going to do a lot that week. On the evening of Sunday 14th, Kathy started to feel unwell she was having trouble breathing, so we called the Doctor and he sent her to Hospital, she came back home the same day, that night she slept downstairs in a chair with me as her breathing trouble had come back.

Next morning she was a lot better so I decided to go into town and leave Kathy at home with her Mother when I came home Kathy had taken a turn for the worse and that night she was taken up to the Royal Berks. Kathy was released on Tuesday 16th March and in the early hours of Wednesday 17th March, she left home for the last. When I went up on that day I was told that Kathy was seriously ill and the tumour on her Lungs had grown a lot, they moved her to room 21 and that was my home for the next days.

In early hours of the 22nd March Kathy became restless and at one point she could see a little girl standing at the end of her bed, then at 4.10 am she suddenly sat up and starting to go forward and I managed to catch her before she fell on to the floor and little did I know that was to be the last time I would hold her.

At 4.20am on 22nd March 2010 Kathy passed away, I had not only lost a wonderful Wife but a good friend. I know I will never meet another person like her. I still wear her wedding ring on a leather cord around my neck and I'm still very proud to call her my WIFE.

                                                        Celebration Of A Life

Kathy's funeral was held on 30th April 2010 at the West Berkshire Crematorium, the service was taken by Clare Grove of the British Humanist Association.
My Brother Keith read out my personal tribute, my Sister read out Rebekkas, Clare read out the personal tribute on behalf of Kathy's family and last of all my Nieces husband Tony read out a moving tribute which had everyone in tears.
One of Kathy's request was that people should wear bright colours or Football shirts, I wore my Tottenham Hotspur shirt, she would have been surprised how packed the Crematorium was.
After the funeral drinks were had at the Jack Russell in Faccombe, Hampshire.

Cover Of The Order Of Service

Layout Of The Service

                                                        KATHRYN ANN PEARCE

                                                  1st August 1964 to 22nd March 2010

                                                                      At Rest

Kathy's ashes were interned on 12th May 2010 in St Johns Churchyard, Stockcross, the short service was conducted by Revd John Toogood


The Flowers Were Placed On Kathy's Birthday,  1 August 2010

                                                                  Kathys Poem
                                                  Kathy, you are the first sign of Spring                
                                                  Your smile is the warmth of the Summer sun on my face
                                                  You're the sparkle on the Blue Sea
                                                  You're the gentle Summer breeze
                                                  You're the star in the sky
                                                  You're the tear in my eye

                
                         All photos were taken and owned by D D Pearce of Darrins Photography

               ST ENODOC CHURCH CORNWALL

The Church

St Enodoc lies the the parish of St Minver, why there's a Church here is a mystery. There is no doubt that this is an ancient place of worship. Some of the architecture dates back to the 12th century, which make makes the Church a Grade 1 listed building. From the 16th - the middle of the 19th century the Church was virtually buried by the sand dunes. Restoration work took place between 1863-64, since it's renovation in1864 this church has found its way into countless hearts including Sir John Betjeman and me and my family, I think if and when My daughter starts a family I can imaging her coming down here and saying "your grandad loved this place so much and every time he took the same old photos". Another Thing that stands out is the spire which leans over to one side.So if you're in Cornwall anytime I would pay this little a visit, you won't be disappointed

St Enodoc Seen From Brea Hill

The Churchyard

St Enodoc is situated on the North Coast of Cornwall near a crescent shaped beach called Daymer Bay, to get to the church you have to walk across a golf course and by the 11th green you will find this church surround by Tamarisk.




You Have To Cross The 13th Fairway, So Look Right For Low Flying Golf Balls

As you enter through a little lynchgate with its slate coffin rest in the middle, the first thing you notice is either side of the path the ground is a lot higher, this is due to when the church was buried up to its eaves in sand.

Through The Lychgate

The only way into the church was through a sunlight in the roof, when you walk around the outside of the church today you can still see the sand is still halfway up the wall in places.

You Can See At The Far End Of The Church, How High The Sand got

For many years now I have been coming to this church as I find it a calming place to sit and take in the sight and sounds. This place meant such a lot to my late wife that before she passed away she would have liked to have had her ashes buried here.This little church also meant a lot to Firefighter Fleur Lombard who lost her life fighting a fire in Bristol on 6th February 1996 age just 21 years,making her the first Female firefighter to die in civil action in Great Britain




Fleur Lombards Ashes are Buried In The Top Left Hand Corner Of The Churchyard

The most famous grave in the small Churchyard as to be that of the Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman,

you'll find his grave on your right as you enter through the lychgate. His headstone is a nice piece of local slate with beautiful writing and carvings on it.




A Beautiful Headstone For A Great Man

How His Grave Looked Shortly After his Burial In 1984

Not Much Grass Left After Extra Visitors To The Church


Sir John passed away in Treen which was in his house in Daymer Bay Lane Trebetherick, he passed on 19th May 1984

Mabel Betjeman's Grave

Looking Towards The Camel Estuary And Stepper Point

                                                                 Inside St Enodoc





As you step inside the porch on your left is a memorial to a Father and Daughter, John and Alice who died within days of each other. The Date they buried is Dec 1867



Memorial to John And Alice Mably



Lovely 17th Century Carvings On The Headstones

 

                                                    Inscription On The Headstone

                                                          

                                                          Remember man within
                                                           The youthful days
                                                           To serve the lord
                                                           Rare death thy seize
                                                           Then live to dye
                                                           To gain so high a piece
                                                           That thy poor soul
                                                           May live paradise

                                                           Here is the love of my
                                                           Wife shown that where
                                                           Wee layith by this
                                                           It may be known
                                                           My wife and I did
                                                           Love so well a green
                                                           Yet I must part for god
                                                           Would have it so to be
                                                            From my wife.
           

Whilst walking around the Churchyard you will see plenty of headstones with the surname "Mably or Mabley"



Layout Of The Church

On the left of the photo you will see the Font which is Norman, it has cable mouldings and is mounted on a modern Granite base


Looking Towards the Alter

All that's let's left of the Rood Screen is the base, it dates back to the 15th century.Its origins are unknown,but it's assumed that it was truncated at the time of the reformation or Commonwealth.

The Rood Screen



A Close Up Of Two Of The Panels Of The Rood Screen

The Window In The Bell Tower



The tower is an 13th century addition, surmounted by its slightly curved broach spire.
The spire houses a single bell which was purchased in1875 from the wreck of the Immacolata of Barletta in Italy, which had gone aground on the and was lost on the Doom Bar, it carries the the inscription Sahel which indicates that either the vessel had been renamed or that it came off another ship.

Open Pages

A Memorial Tablet To Earnest Edward Betjemann

During the war John Betjeman decided to drop the extra letter N from his surname to make it sound less German.

The Memorial to the Brig Maria Assumpta

The memorial is to the three crew who lost their lives when the Maria Assumpta hit rocks after the engines failed. The captain was later charged with manslaughter after it was discovered that he took a route not recommend by the Admiralty. He made the bad decision of taking a scenic route be the Rumps that stick out from the coast and the small island called the Mould and Pentire point, when the Maria Assumpta was between these points, the engine suddenly stop and could not be restarted and the Maria Assumpta was smashed against the rocks taking Emily Macfarlane, John Shannon and Ann Taylor with her.



A Piece Of Wreckage From The Maria Assumpta That I found on Polzeath Beach

                                                                     
                                                           Church Kneeling Cushions



Plaice



Lobster



                                                                         Windows



Simple Light

Beautiful Rays

Pure Light

Way To The Day Light

Looking Towards The Lychgate

The Crooked Spire

Looking East

Waiting For My Owner,

                                                 These two photos were taken in May 2012



A Weddings Due

Not Just An Outbuilding

Not many people know when they go past this building to the Church, that this was once a Mortuary.When the body of sailors were found after shipwrecks along this part of the coast they were brought to this building awaiting burial .

                                                     

                                                        Sunday Afternoon Service In
                                                        St Enodoc Church Cornwall



Poem By Sir John Betjeman

                                                        

                                                      

IF HEAVEN WAS A PLACE ON EARTH

Oh St Enodoc if Heaven was on Earth here it would be

I love sitting at the top of your churchyard to take in the views

Across the Doom Bar to the point of Stepper,Daymer Bay

And the start of the path to the cliffs of Greenaway

In the shadow of Brae Hill you stand

It’s hard to believe once to your roof

You were buried in sand

Then the only way to enter was through a hole in your roof

When people would travel by foot and by hoof

With your crooked stone spire standing proud

On the first Sunday your bell would ring loud

Telling people to hurry it’s time to sing and pray

On this bright holy day

Sat in your churchyard I hear the sound of Golf club on ball

Amid the sound of the mighty Atlantic roar

The waves roll over the bar that claimed sailor lives

That are no more

Some of the Golfers pant and puff

Sorry old boy you’re in the rough

Swish, good shot old boy you've made the green

On the tricky hole that is thirteen

In your churchyard you have ancient bones

Of people from Rock,Trebetherick and Polzeath

Who lived in the villages from their birth to their death

I remember the day when Betjeman was laid to rest

Many people turned out in their mourning best

The wind did blow and the rain did pour

Back in the year of 1984

Through the gateway on your right you’ll find Sir John

The headstone is made of slate with is Black and hard

That will stand for many years over this great Bard

                                                                                                      Poem By BBB

                           All Photos Taken And Owned by DD Pearce Of Darrin's Photography