Family Tribute by Sue & Katy Barrett

Sue:
Well Dad, a sports commentator might look around the room, “the ground”, and say “It’s a bit of a small crowd today” but be assured that the ‘crowd’ consists of some of your most loyal and devoted fans…and of course, your other loyal and devoted fans are tuning in to the broadcast. And I’d like to welcome all those either listening to this live or the recorded version, and particularly sending sort-of ‘virtual hugs’ to our brother David in Sweden, to Dad’s brother Pete in Southampton, and to Dad’s eldest grand-daughter, Anna, who is front-line NHS. But to all of Dad’s friends and family around the world, thank you for being with us here today.
Looking back on Dad’s early childhood it’s quite remarkable he made it to 9 years old, let alone 89 years old, because he had three lucky escapes early on. Lucky escape number one: he was born, of course, in 1930 in central Southampton, and that’s where he lived, in Debenhams – not ‘in’ Debenhams(!), but where Debenhams was, it was Edwin Jones with some housing. And in 1939 when Dad was nine, he was in the midst of World War 2; Southampton was a major target of course, not just because of the docks, but because the Spitfire factory just up the road. So lucky escape number one comes when they had a choice of two air raid shelters. Pete tells the story that they either chose the quiet one for a good night’s sleep, or they went for the loud one which was the ‘sing-song’, and on a particular night they decided to go to the furthest one, and that was lucky escape number one, because the one nearest them in the park opposite, took a direct hit, and everybody was killed.
Lucky escape number two comes from the fact that Dad and Pete were due to be put on a boat, a steamship, that sailed from Liverpool to Canada - it was part of the Government’s scheme to send children in vulnerable parts of the UK abroad to Commonwealth countries. Something went wrong with Dad’s inoculations, they didn’t get on the boat, that they were due to get on; that was the boat that was torpedoed in mid-Atlantic, and then all the evacuations to Commonwealth countries then stopped. And here’s lucky escape number three: they’re all out, they come home, and Dad finds that his house has taken a direct hit. They’ve lost the house, they are homeless, and they have lost everything within it.
From that rubble, and the Ashes (see what I did there?! He’ll like that!) From the Ashes, there rises this young, poor, Southampton “nipper” who gains a scholarship to Taunton’s School. And although Dad never rated himself as much of a scholar, he was nevertheless, very grateful to have had the opportunity to study – because otherwise the family would never have afforded that – and he was very proud to keep his association with the Old Tauntonians Association throughout the rest of his life.
There rises from those Ashes a young Southampton lad, who then has to be evacuated to Bournemouth and learn to be independent very quickly, because Taunton’s School moves down with the Bournemouth Boy’s Grammar School, and Dad has to be fostered in Southbourne for the rest of the War. Here is a lad from Southampton, from the ashes, rises, and at sixteen, gets a job, and he then spends his whole life working really hard – I can’t remember him ever taking a day off work – he works hard, he’s careful with his money, and he provides well for his family. Here is a Southampton Lad who never ‘made a drama out of a crisis’, and even though he had a heart attack in January, and even though he was in quite some pain in recent months and weeks before he died, he faced that pain with stoicism. And rising from those ashes is a Southampton Lad who having lived and been born right opposite a park and a cricket ground, and down the road from The Dell where ‘the Saints were marching in’, is someone who loves sport and in particular, loves cricket and football.

Katy:
So, we think that Grandad definitely deserves some long-service medals, for loyalty and devotion!
The first medal: in 1946 he started working at Commercial Union, where he first met Granny. He worked there for over forty years, and in retirement he continued to keep in contact with work colleagues and friends through the AVIVA Pensioners group.
In 1953 he married Granny Vi and was by her side for sixty-five years until she passed away last year.
Since childhood Grandad played cricket and football for many teams, but his longest connection was with New Milton Cricket Club, with over fifty years of commitment and service as a player, treasurer, Colts manager, coach, umpire and spectator.
He even showed loyalty and devotion to breakfast cereals, consuming world-record amounts of Kellogs’ Cornflakes over the years!
Since 1957 when David, Grandad’s eldest son, was born Grandad has spent over sixty years being a patient, kind, calm role-model to three children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren!
As grandchildren, that’s all ten of us, we will also remember Grandad as a gentle, funny and supportive man. He had a quick sense of humour, a lovely smile, and could express a variety of emotions simply by raising one eyebrow! We spent many happy times wandering along Barton cliff top with ice creams in the sun. I don’t think grandad ever looked happier than when sat on a sunny day with a good ice cream!
We have fond memories of playing games pulled from the garage. I remember a few occasions in particular where these games caused me and Zoe and Grandad to laugh so hard we could barely breathe and had to stop the game altogether!
We remember Grandad teaching us how to draw. He was an encouraging teacher and I think if any of us have an artistic streak in us today, then we definitely have Grandad to thank for this.
He was an avid gardener; we would help him in the garden in the greenhouse to attend to his beautiful sweet peas and roses, and even in his later years he was always keen to potter around a garden and help out wherever he could.
He always showed an interest in all of us grandchildrens’ lives - how school was going and what sports we were practising. Grandad’s love of sport was infectious and he spent many hours with all of us grandchildren in the garden, playing cricket, catch or football, and always made an effort to come and attend our variety of sporting events.
We thank Grandad for the important role he has played in all of our lives, and the values of kindness, politeness, and patience that he has instilled in us all.

Sue:
Dad was a well-respected Umpire, not just for New Milton Cricket Club, but Clubs across the South as a Premier League Umpire. He was very proud to have studied for his Umpire exams in the Long Room at Lord’s. I’m wearing his Umpire badge, and I’ve got here his Cricket book that is annotated and highlighted as he was revising for those exams. There are forty-two Laws in cricket but it’s the preamble that I particularly want to draw our attention to. And the preamble is about the ‘sprit’ of cricket, and that is something that involves: “Respect, fair play, integrity, honesty, and self-discipline, even when things go against you”.
From all the really lovely comments we’ve had from Dad’s ‘cricketing family’ it’s obvious that Dad upheld those values when he was an Umpire on a cricket pitch. But, of course, I would like to add that he upheld those values because they underpinned every aspect of all his life, and those are the values and qualities that he taught us as a fine role model.
I’d like to finish with Law 16: The Cessation Of Play - The Call Of Time: After the Call Of Time,  the bails shall be removed from both wickets.
[Sue hands Bob’s cricketing bails and cricket hat to Katy, who puts them on the casket]


That was a fine innings Dad, one we’re very grateful for and very proud of.
 “Thank you, that lad”


Funeral of Robert Alfred Miell 
April 21st, 2020 
Chesil House, Winchester