Arrangements for the Funeral of Bernard Stevens
Friday 22nd July 2022 at 11.30am
St. Mary’s Church, Temple Balsall followed by interment at Temple Fields Natural Burial Ground
Bern’s family & friends are invited to attend the celebration of his life at St Mary’s Church in Temple Balsall on Friday 22nd July at 11:30am. Whilst the celebration will take place in the church & led by the vicar of St Mary’s – Rev Kathy – in line with Bern’s wishes it will not be a religious affair. Situated near to the natural burial ground, the church provides the perfect venue from which to have the celebration.
Afterwards we will make the short walk through the church cemetery, & across the road into the natural burial ground where Bern will be laid to rest. His wish was a preference for bright colours rather than black.
No flowers thank you but donations very welcome to Myeloma UK. You can access the JustGiving page which has been set up in Bern’s memory via this Just Giving Link.
Imelda & Eleanor invite you all to join them afterwards for refreshment at The Stables, Nuthurst Grange Country House Hotel, Nuthurst Lane, Hockley Heath, Solihull, B94 5NL
Exact funeral location detail & directions can be found below.
Imelda & Eleanor welcome any memories, messages or stories you may have about Bern so please feel free to leave any you may have at the bottom of this web page.
Directions to St Mary’s Church
Address: Fen End Rd W, Knowle, Solihull B93 0AN
From Knowle: B4101 Kenilworth Rd to Temple Balsall. DO NOT take the right hand turn into Temple Lane signed for cemetery but continue, taking the right hand turn into Fen End Road West. Continue up the road passing the big house & long lawn on your right & take the right turn signposted main car park & follow that round to the right & down a slope into a large car park. The tarmac footpath across the river back toward the path to the church is at the top end of the car park.
You can find directions by clicking this link
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Going to miss u ‘ma Bern’. The world doesn’t seem right anymore without you in it. A true gent.
We didn’t know Bern long, we met through house purchase. He was funny and kind, a straight up, straight down kind of guy. Super super organised too! In a few short months he left a lasting impression on our then 6yr old, who wanted to visit 411 regularly, not to check out our new home but to see Bern. Bern has endured our baking, many a golf video of Rory practicing (always met with a chirpy reply) but by far the best was when we messaged to say 411 wasn’t the same without Bern in it, so Rory has brought a gold fish for his room and called him Bern. We managed to physically introduce both Berns earlier this year 🤣
A truly lovely, lovely man. Whilst missed so much here he is already quietly charming his way around heaven. A complete gentleman x
Judy and I shared a bottle of 1935 Vintage port with Imelda and Bernard (mostly Bernard) at our house in Little Witley some years ago. Bernard was blown away with the taste and talked of little else for days afterwards. He loved the better things in life and was certainly one of the good guys- A life well lived and he will be missed by all who knew him.
Bernard knew how fond I am of sticky buns. So when he came into the shop he would bring in these Belgian Buns that were as large as Belgium, (we dined on them for days!!)
Liam (The Diskery).
Dear Bern
How patiently you tolerated the Loaches over the years, our belligerence and mouthiness, particularly mine. How many times must you have said to your loving wife, our sister, “Never again!” How much we adored your deft playing of the guitar, while we chorally wrecked your delicate fingering of the strings, with dubious renditions of Irish rebel songs. Again, how patient you were, as we mauled your talent. And how gracious you would be when I attempted belated and fruitless apologies. and still you took me in, and how kind you were recently to buy me two much appreciated studies of two poets. And your steady, reliable golf, as deft as your guitar playing – it always put me and others to shame with its enviable consistency. And your singing; soft, lilting, assured. And how I adored your full recitation of Tam O’ Shanter! And my, you loved your red wines, and your fine whiskies, which you shared so generously. I was delighted to taste some of those firewaters and learn from you about them. I suppose a major character flaw must be your choice of football team! And, I suspect, your politics…
You will be missed so much by so many, Bern. A major achievement in itself! A true gentleman, one might say.
We shall miss you Bern your kindness your wit , your dexterity on that beautiful guitar and the singing we shared. The many lovely get together’s you and Imelda put on we shall never forget them. Happy memories of Coombe Cottage too. We shall always keep you in our hearts. Until we meet again Love De and Mike Hadzor xxx
Thinking about your leaving do later on today Bern; occasions I don’t generally attend.
What can I say? I’ll never forget those bear hugs of greetings you gave and that fabulous laugh of yours…oh and that smashing evening at the ballet we had whilst that philistine Loachie stayed at home. Can’t believe you’re not around. I’ll miss you Bern love “mad Theresa”