Arrangements for the funeral of Mark Arstall
Friday 12th April 2019 11.30 am
Cambridge Road Methodist Church, Kings Heath
Followed by a private family committal.
You are invited to attend a farewell ceremony for Mark Arstall at Cambridge Road Methodist Church, Kings Heath. After the ceremony, all are welcome to stay for refreshments and to share memories of Mark.
Please see the tabs below for further information and directions about the day.
Mark’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.
A copy of the Order of Service can be downloaded by clicking this link.
Jane’s tribute to Mark can be read by clicking this link.
A presentation of Mark’s life story can be found by clicking this link
Here are some photos of Mark’s life which were displayed at the church.
Please share this link with anyone you feel may wish to know about Mark’s funeral.
Memories of Mark at university, playing the organ, having to slide up and down the seat so fast to reach all the notes!
My fiance David and I asked Mark to play the organ at Trinity Methodist Church in Loughborough for our wedding. Following the logic that Mark was going to be at the church anyway, he and Jane scheduled their wedding for a couple of hours later.
Mark was just the perfect accompanist at choir rehearsal. I didn’t know him, or work with him, for very long, but in the two years in which I did know him/worked with him, I grew to admire and respect him as a brilliant pianist and accompanist, as well as a lovely individual. Rest in peace Mark, deepest condolences to all his family.
On behalf of Shirley Fellowship choir i would like to thank Mark for all the time and inspiration he gave us both at our weekly Sunday rehearsals and our concerts,such a gentle talented man ,Rest in peace Mark,our condolences to all the family
I have known Mark since 2013 when I first joined the Fellowship Singers of Shirley. He was such a beautiful pianist and violinist, and I feel immensely privileged to have heard him play at our rehearsals and concerts. Mark was always very kind and friendly towards me, with a good sense of humour, taking the time to chat to me every week during the tea break and taking an interest in what I was doing in terms of university and work. I will always remember and respect his dedication to the choir, and how he never wanted to let us down. This was demonstrated by how soon he came back to playing with us after his operation, and the weeks he so diligently still came to rehearsal despite clearly not feeling at all well. Thank you Mark.
Mark, thank you for encouraging me to sing again and for arranging for me to join Hall Green Choral Society. Rehearsals and the concerts remain one of my life’s pleasures except that now I will miss your lovely bass voice which was always so clear. Thank you for inviting me to the Town Hall where we all heard you play the mighty organ. Thank you for the Tuesday lunchtime recitals at Hall Green United Community Church which were always so well received. We are missing these now. Heaven’s gain is our loss. God Bless. With love and condolences to your family.
Mark played the organ beautifully for our wedding at Berkswell Church back in 2005 and accompanied our Mom (Sheila) to sing Ave Maria which is a very fond memory of ours. Mark was kind in buying presents for each of our children when born and the one was a lovely picnic blanket which is used for days out and holidays still and will continue to, always now with a memory of Mark. Rest in peace.
I felt it was a great privilege to have played duets with Mark and accompanied him since 2003, giving exciting, informative and varied recitals at Hall Green United Community Church ( and at other venues). He was a very quiet, patient person, also very talented , playing piano. violin, organ and his pedal organ (even his guitar). He never failed to bring some humour to our concerts for the elderly in Hall Green and Handsworth churches . He also played several midweek services at Hall Green for Friendly Corner Lunch Club , where many of our musical friends first met.. His music gave a lot of pleasure to so many people . He will certainly be greatly missed, so I send my heartfelt sympathy to all Mark’s family. Thank you for the music Mark.
Mark was a good man with kind heart. I remember when I join St Mary church handsworth my daughter blessing love music and wanted to join the choir. I spoke with father Bob and he asked Mark if Blessing could join church choir which he agreed, since then every Sunday after church Mark teaches Blessing piano and he even went extra mile and made provision for her to continue with her piano lesson even after his death. Me and Blessing will never forgot you Mark you live in our hearts forever. Blessing will miss you most. Continue to rest in peace with your maker. Good night Mark till we meet again in the ressuration day. Good bye. Mo , Emmanuel and Blessing
Mark was always a kind, quiet but reassuring presence during my primary school years with Ruth, whether on days out or play dates at the family home. I remember building marble runs in the loft-room, happy days out in Telford and Sarehole Mill, writing our story together, playing board games or watching TV – and feeling how much support Mark brought to all his family and friends. It is good to know he was at home, surrounded by family love, at his passing. I’m so pleased to see the video of him playing the Town Hall organ, what an amazing experience! Much love to all the family, Nicki (Cooper-Harvey)
I knew Mark for a number of years.
BERKSWELL CHURCH
Once when Mark was organist at Berkswell Church my brother Kim’s St Peter’s Church (Balsall Common) Choir did a joint evensong, with Berkswell Church Choir, at Mark’s Church.
HEART OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
Often prior to Christmas (until a few years ago), Mark and I happened to meet (at Heart of England School in Balsall Common) in a Churches Together Advent Carol Service during which local church choirs each performed one or 2 carols in front of one another.
HALL GREEN CHORAL SOCIETY
For about the past 10 years I’ve sung ‘second tenor’ with Hall Green Choral Society. Mark was a crucial ‘second bass’ in that Choir. Around 5 years ago, the Society’s musical director (Clive Jones) was seriously ill. During that time, without hesitation Mark ably led the choir from the piano. He was crucial in keeping the Choir going and yet managed to still make the practices very interesting.
2-3 months before his tragic death, Mark manfully continued to attend the rehearsals. One Tuesday night, when Clive was ill and had overslept, both Mark and his daughter happened to be present. The latter kindly came to the rescue and (like her heroic father) led the practice from the piano.
FELLOWSHIP SINGERS OF SHIRLEY
Around 5 years ago, Fellowship Singers (in which I’ve sung ‘second tenor’ since October 2009) needed a new accompanist. I recommended Mark for the job. He was taken on – one of the best things the Choir ever did! Mark later told me that he was thrilled, and very grateful, that he had got the job! He was so modest! We were the lucky ones, having such a committed, enthusiastic, helpful, brilliant and professional accompanist.
I remember Mark turning up at concerts wearing a lovely, coloured bow tie. Each time one of his child piano pupils (a different person each time) wonderfully acted as his page turner!
In addition, at several concerts, Mark skilfully performed on his violin – being a violinist myself, it was a particular treat for me to watch and listen to Mark play.
In the summer of 2017, Fellowship Singers performed a concert at Our Lady of the Wayside in Shirley. Besides Mark accompanying the Choir from the piano, he superbly played a couple of violin pieces. Liz Walker performed about 3 flute items. On the fiddle I played ‘Meditation’ (by Frank Bridge), impeccably accompanied by Mark who greatly calmed my nerves via his brilliance!
Mark was really musically talented, having achieved an ‘MA (Oxon)’!
MARK’S HELP TO ME
Mark was very kind. Several times, just before a concert I was desperate to have my bow tie tightened – Mark was always willing to help (yet without trying to throttle me!). Once I needed the bridge of my own violin adjusting (which I understood had to be very precise and was quite an art). Mark offered to help and refused to accept payment for his services.
ST MARY’S CHURCH IN HANDSWORTH
As a member (for the past 2.5 years) of the St Ignatius Singers’ Choir (who perform evensong at various churches about 8 Sundays per year) – who used to be resident at St Paul’s Church, Hockley – I was privileged to sing at St Mary’s in Handsworth (Mark’s new Church after leaving Berkswell) about 3 times. Mark did offer to sing bass to supplement the Choir. Even when not needed, he often turned up to listen to our renditions.
MARK’S MUSIC GROUP
Mark ran (in a church hall) a small music group, consisting of female singers from Hall Green Choral Society, himself on the piano (and occasionally violin) and (once in a while) another instrumentalist. I attended a couple of their concerts.
Mark performed a solo concert on the piano, a few months ago, in the main hall of Church of the Ascension, Hall Green. His determination to live life to the full, amidst such poor health, was admirable and inspiring!
OESOPHOGUS CANCER
It was incredibly sad that Mark developed oesophagus cancer about 2 years ago. I understood it was caught early. Mark having had an operation, I thought he was ‘on the mend’. It was horrible to learn, soon after, that Mark’s health was again deteriorating and the cancer would terminate his life.
HIS BRAVENESS
Mark was amazingly brave. I never heard him complain. He was so positive.
Mark continued to turn up for Fellowship Singers’ rehearsals, for as long as possible, despite looking exhausted and weak.
He came to Hall Green Choral Society practices for even longer. (Mark told me that, otherwise, he’d only be sitting at home moping!) In the Christmas concert 2018 I looked at the ‘second bass’ parts and sand such with Mark. I thought he’d greatly struggle, due to being so ill, but his strong will power and note accuracy put me to shame! It was a privilege to stand by his side at what was his last choral concert.
Many people greatly miss Mark. He was a lovely person. Although rather quiet, he was very caring, unselfish, and extremely musically disciplined and talented!
LOUIS RAWSON
9 APRIL 2019
So many memories of Mark during his time with the Fellowship Singers of Shirley. He had a great sense of humour, was always nattily dressed with a bow tie at concerts, and always enjoyed receiving his chocolate “thank you” gift at the end! My favourite and most enduring memory was hearing Mark play the violin at one of our concerts. Not being particularly keen on violin music, I was absolutely captivated and enthralled at how beautifully he made it sing! I could have listened to him play all evening. Rest in Peace, Mark, a true gentleman, you will be greatly missed x
Thank you Mark for all of the music. Teach the Angels to sing. x
Many thanks to everyone for their lovely comments and for donating to our two charities in memory of Mark. We raised £530 for Macmillan Cancer Support and £410 for St Mary’s Hospice and have now received thanks from both charities.
I knew Mark at Loughborough University, as part of an ecumencial group making radio programmes exploring how different denominations looked at various issues. He was intelligent, kind, and thoughtful. He played organ at my wedding, and we kept in touch for a little while after that. He was a good friend.