Arrangements for the funeral of Clive Jefferson
Saturday 20th February 10am
Wyre Forest Crematorium, Kidderminster
You are invited to attend a service of remembrance and thanksgiving for the life of Clive Jefferson. This will be held at Wyre Forest Crematorium at 10am.
All are invited back to the Land Oak pub after the service to raise a glass and share memories of Clive.
Clive died peacefully on Monday 8th February with Amy and Nina by his side.
Clive’s family welcome any tributes, words of remembrance and stories about him so do feel free to leave any messages at the bottom of this webpage.
Please share this link with anyone you feel may wish to know about Clive’s funeral.
Dear Margaret,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss and can’t begin to imagine what you are going through right now. I will always remember Clive coming to visit us at university – he was larger than life in every way.
You and Clive raised two incredible, strong daughters together. He was always very proud of them. I was so glad to hear that Neens and Amy were both by his side when he passed away.
Just wanted to let you know that I am sorry I can’t be at the funeral but I am thinking about you and sending all my love,
Helen xxxxx
When I think of Clive, I think of a larger-than life character who loved his cars – Nina’s shared a few stories with me of some her ‘scrapes’ in the garage – but mostly I think wow, what an amazing job you and Margaret did of raising two incredible daughters. Generous-spirited, warm-hearted, kind, caring, fun and simply lovely, lovely people who are now doing their own amazing job of raising their own families. An absolute credit to you and what a legacy to leave to us. Thank you and all my love to the Jefferson family at this sad time. x Nikki
…He wore his heart on his sleeve and it was a big heart. He was always so generous with his time, always ready to help, which he did on many occasions.
I have so many good memories and a few bad ones too. For instance, I will never forget the many days when Clive would come in to the office and inform us all that he had bought a new car. Silence would descend on the congregation and you could almost smell the fear because we all knew that the next thing he would ask was whether anyone wanted to go for a spin. I was often the first to go and everyone would have thier faces pushed to the window as the tyres screeched thier way out of the car park. Amazingly everyone came back in one piece- though not always the same weight!
Clive was very special. A big man with a big heart.
Paul Wrigglesworth
Clive was the first person I met when I joined Worcester Planning in October 1973. Strangely, his kindness impressed more than his height but I soon realised what a dominating presence he was wherever he went. His booming voice often broke into equally booming laughter – usually from the most juvenile, even schoolboy humour. I thought him a boy in a man’s body then – I wasn’t entirely wrong! We were instant friends, a friendship which very quickly embraced our families and many good, shared times were had. Even though life eventually took us in different directions, I never lost my fondness for him or for those days. Recent re-contact was sadly too late.
We are told to celebrate, not mourn the passing of a life. Not easy but here goes. Life isn’t always made up of the grand events – it is a pot-pourri of small, often trivial things which nevertheless linger for many years. I would like to share a few of mine:
– ‘cruising’ around in Clive’s 1800 with Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross” blaring from his 8-track system (remember those?) for all to enjoy
– Clive standing up through the folding roof of our Fiat 500 while giving a Hitler salute to passers-by! How did he ever fit into some of those cars he had?
– the night of a particularly big party when he was far too worse for wear (hard to believe, I know) but driving nevertheless and arriving at a police road block (there had been a murder in the city) – a packet of Fisherman’s Friends disappeared in no time! The officer drew back immediately from the effect and, with a knowing look, passed us through!
– walking over the cliffs when on holiday together in Swanage to Old Harry rocks, daring each other to walk the narrow, natural bridge over. I won!!! Wouldn’t do it now!!
– the way, despite his height, he always seemed to find ties that were too long and had to be tucked into his trousers – or perhaps that was just an excuse!
– his comforting pocket handkerchief
– how small a cigarette seemed in those big hands ( I told him to stop)
– the garden swing I helped him build from 2 tree trunks concreted in the ground – a real Fred Flinstone structure! Nothing by halves!
– Clive waking up the publican at the Huntsman in Kempsey at 2am asking if we could have the car keys which I had left in the bar in a drunken haze so we could go home – good job he was a frequent customer!
– Clive as an executioner at a medieval fancy dress party with a big axe (of course) – Margy lost her head that night (??), I have photos to prove it
– Clive dressed as a big hairy ape at another such do, very authentic (he still needed a costume, though) and, with a series of tubes managed to drink without removing the mask. No comment on how he went to the loo!
– how he wrapped me up when my marriage folded, unsurprisingly more than a few beers followed!
I warned you of trivia, others no doubt have many such memories.
Clive was not without faults and not without a few demons, but in truth who is? I am better for knowing him and the times we and our families shared. That, for me, is a good enough epitaph. His last few years were not fair, he deserved a better, more fitting exit, a grand finale – that one last, raging Goodnight! cried for by Dylan Thomas. No one would have enjoyed it more than Clive. To paraphrase – “so long, its been good to know you”. Farewell, friend.
…Life is great but alas too short. The older we become the more we appreciate what a gift it is.
Remember all the fun we’ve had together pal, from the first blast up the lanes in your Lotus Elan! Your 40th at the Bell, the tug-o-war, the wine on the Rhine. The fun every friday night in the Pack Horse, racing home in that Saab- how we never ended up on the roof i’ll never know! All the fun we shared in the Scorpion, trips to the Isle of Mann, France, Germany, Czech, etc. Places we’ve been and all those deliveries and collections you and Margy have done for me. More fun in the Scorpion, the TR8’s, all the shows, classic car events, bike meets, NEC, Goodwood. The innumerable visits to the Rahah every Friday night with Jonah, Minky and the lads, off-roading our way home in the Discovery or the Bruiser.
Off-roading in ‘The Pig’- that was fun! More Christmas parties, lots more beer, sleeping at Mum and Dad’s and all that milk in the fridge, midnight and cooking, TV full volume … and not a word of complain from them!
It’s been a blast pal. You and I packed in a lot and I don’t regret a second of it.
Mark Grinnall
Margy, What a character you married! We only knew Clive a short time but he’s left a big impression. We remember the ‘new’ dancing at Neen’s wedding and his enthusiasm for cars was amazing. He could have replaced Jeremy Clarkson!
You must have so many happy memories to laugh and talk about.
All love to you and the Jefferson families.
Although I left the ‘Wyre Forest Family’ many years ago, I will always remember Clive with great fondness and am sad to hear of his passing. I worked with him at Worcester Planning Office, then again at Land Oak House and he was a good friend to me – especially when my car needed repairing, which was a regular occurence. I will remember him as a big man who had an even bigger heart. He will be sadly missed.
Margaret Amy Nina
Thinking of you all. We reflect that we were fortunate to have known such an amiable and warm – hearted character as Clive.We enjoyed good times with him in the Worcester area and he could always be relied upon for livening up those dark days of travail in the planning office. His interests were varied on the extra-mural side and of course jazz and r&b could be played on wheels! No environment could deny his presence,but was usually much heartier for it.How tony used to enjoy Clives ” Chamber of Horrors” ie. a planning office shelf with a make-over displaying impossibly contorted pistons and other car parts which he had extricated from some friends car in need of TLC! Clarksons lot couldnt compete with that! Clives love of boats of all shapes and sizes will be remembered by his many friends and he could handle them like an old sea dog Even the lowly canoe he could modify to gain entry!
Clive certainly lived life to the full in a faster lane than most, and we will always have vivid and treasured memories of him.
Clive
We have known Clive as a close friend for over 40 years and near neighbours for 36 of those. It is difficult to sum up our thoughts of him in a few brief words. He was a larger than life character, with a big presence and a booming voice!
– He was gregarious and liked to be the centre of attention but always a generous man both in helping others and being first to the bar!
– In the early days when we lived in Chester Road, Clive and Margy used to come round for the evening, and had been known to get a lift back down Roden Avenue on the milk float in the early hours!
– A family man who loved and was proud of his and Marg’s daughters and grandchildren.
– A man of many talents, of which subtlety wasn’t one (and which he was proud to admit).
– Always had a great sense of humour.
– A car fanatic both in driving and all the different novel and special cars he owned. He always loved driving and have the occasional race!
– Liked his personalised and sometimes obscure, number plates.
– He always liked to discover how things worked which usually involved taking things apart then reassembling them never reading the instructions!
– In more recent years he wholeheartedly embraced new technology and was rarely separated from his phone. He loved having new gadgets to play with.
– He served in the Police Specials for the sense of adventure.
– His special negotiating talents as the Council’s Planning Enforcement Officer for many years will be remembered by many.
– He was a very powerful swimmer and in his younger days loved scuba diving. He had a love of boats and the sea and always thought about moving to the coast.
– After his retirement he turned his skills to cabinet making and we are the very proud owners of some of his work, especially the fireplace surround.
– He was a stickler for punctuality, to the minute.
Clive always tried to enjoy life to the full despite his back problems and more recent cancer.
We are so sorry that we can’t be there to celebrate Clive’s life and say a final farewell with his family and many friends. He will be truly missed by us and never forgotten.
May he rest in peace.
Noel and Den Holdstock
Dear Margaret, Amy, Neens,
Thinking of you all today and every day. I have fond memories of university visits from Clive and Margeret, including day out to Weston Super Mare, Ninas 21st in Kiddy and Graduation. Love to you all Charlotte xxxx
Dear Margaret
Suprised and so sorry to about Clive. Memorise of Worcester in our early days come back.