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This is the website to celebrate the life of and to continue the memory that is

 

Russell Alton

Picture by Jezz Warren

12 November 1924 - 12 April 2008

"He was a lovely man... one of life's gentlemen"

LATEST

 

23 December 2008 - I went to the crematorium and refreshed the flowers again.  It was about 2.30pm.

6 December 2008 - Refreshed the flowers at the crematorium this morning.

16 November 2008 - This evening, at home, I remind myself that this Christmas will be the very first Christmas, in my entire life ever, without Dad there.

12 November 2008 - It's Dad's birthday today and we're all feeling extra sad.  I spent just under two hours at the crematorium today.  I know the girls are feeling the same as I am.

13 October 2008 - My thoughts this morning go back to the same one-line that I wrote on Dad's card for the flowers; Lost Without Your Love.  It still seems so appropriate for the way I feel each and everyday.  The line is the song title to one of my favourite groups of all time, Bread.  The lyrics, written by David Gates are so beautiful but since Dad went, they leave me chilled and yet still comforted.  Here's the song and lyrics.

12 October 2008 - Nik and I went to the crematorium together today and took some flowers with us.  What I'd forgotten was that it was only five days beforehand that I'd gone last and the flowers were still in bloom, beautifully.  So, we added the fresh ones, it was the biggest display to date! Lol.  I said to Nik, that Dad would have probably laughed.  This is how it looked.

7 October 2008 - I went the crematorium alone today with some fresh white flowers.

24 September 2008 - I created this little movie in Windows Movie Maker and uploaded it to "YouTube."  I hope it works.

21 September 2008 - I went today with Simon. More white flowers and refreshed the memorial.

24 September 2008 - I created a little movie in Windows Movie Maker and uploaded it to "YouTube." I hope it works.

17 September 2008 - Now I've finally managed to work out how, I've included a beautiful track at the front of Dad's page. It's Matt Monro, an artist that both Dad and I loved listening together and it's called "Til Then My Love." - I've suspended it for now though it is linkable by clicking on the title.

16 September 2008 - Today's visit was generated by my third involuntary outburst of emotion Sunday afternoon. The flowers are mixed with the red carnations that were there when I arrived, presumably by one of the girls!

1 September 2008 - Back at the crematorium this morning, after shopping with Jezz. Sat and spoke out to Dad today, just to say that I'll never forget to the extent, that it's my intention to make sure there are always fresh flowers in the boulder.

 

19 August 2008 - Jezz took this picture with the panoramic function of his camera. It deliberately brings Dad's boulder forward of the others in the circle of remembrance.

15 August 2008 - The saddest visit back to Dad. Laying out the flowers and changing old for new, I had this powerful feeling that I shouldn't leave and I went to, I couldn't. This feeling stayed with me for just over an hour. Simon called at a very spiritual moment when I was thinking about him. I felt like Simon was part of the comfort and healing package that I'd been given in preparation of my Dad not being with me anymore. In other news, Dad's name and four line message is not expected to be featured and included in the book of remembrance until the first week of April 2009, so we can stop looking until then!

31 July 2008 - Jezz and I went over to the crematorium today, to change the flowers and spend a few moments.

20 July 2008 - Dad's other memorial page, http://www.imorial.com/russellalton has been updated and sponsored. The sponsored element has done away with any advertisements that once appeared. Also, Nick came with me to refresh Dad's flowers.

 

28 June 2008 - I drove over to Kingston Crematorium on my own today. It was a very hot day and I refreshed Dad's flowers and spent about 15 minutes reflecting. At one point, it was baking and my thoughts wandered and I suddenly heard Dad saying: "See? The sun on your back!" I cried for a moment and then went back to the car. I drove back home, quietly... Dad would've loved the drive.  The other quirky moment now is that when I went to throw away Dad's brief case a couple of months back, there was a pair of scissors in one of the pen holders. I took them out and kept them in my car. They've become an integral part of each visit to the crematorium. I know it's not X-Files stuff but it puts a smile on my face.

22 June 2008 - Do you think it's because we grew up next to the poet's estate that my albeit limited in skill, poetry prowess surfaces at moments of sadness. Whatever, I've added another recital... shorter than the last one. It's at the end or click here.

15 June 2008 - Nikki and I went to the crematorium at around 10.30am and laid some fresh flowers in Dad's memorial boulder and removed the previous ones. We laid white roses and lilies. Michèle and Anthony went along later and added some yellow roses.

6 June 2008 - Michèle, Anthony, Nikki, Stacey and I scattered Dad's ashes in the same plot of land at the Rose Garden in Kingston Crematorium. It was Dad's request to have his ashes scattered where Betty's were and so we did.  I scattered the ashes, as directed and I'm glad I did.
 

Did you know...?

Dad introduced me (Wayne) to so many varied types of music including Mantovani, José Felciano, James Galway and Shirley Bassey.

 

Old vintage photos of Dad

Photos of Dad

Flowers

 

Did you know...?

Dad had many phrases he used often and one of them was "Tempus Fugit."  By coincidence, those very words are written on the face of the grandfather clock he bought in 2005.

THE MEMORIAL BOULDER IS IN PLACE

Friday 23 May 2008

Wendy from the crematorium called today whilst I was out running an errand or two, to let me know that the boulder had arrived.  She added that it would be put in to place, in one of the remembrance circles.  Jezz and I took a drive over there and took a couple of photos of it.

< Click on image for larger photo >

 

             

Did you know...?

Dad ran a café in the 70's at Elm Road, New Malden, the very street where he was born.

 

 

Where are you now, my Daddy?

 

Where are you now, my Daddy?
I went to phone you again, today
I needed help with a long word
Oh well, never mind, aye?

Where are you now, my Daddy?
I need the sound of your laughter
Can you hear my jokes still?
I still say them, but there's no sound after

Where are you now, my Daddy?
Please try and give me a sign
I'm not doing that well without you
Just a 'hello mate' would do fine

Where are you now, my Daddy?
Why do I feel so lost and alone?
I can't go on without you to guide me
Or driving to Tesco's on my own

Where are you now, my Daddy?
Are you looking? Am I making you proud?
If you could just give me a signal
A sound or a shape in a cloud

Where are you now, my Daddy?
Will this empty feeling ever end?
I sit here here cold and lonely
With a broken heart that will never mend

~ Wayne Alton (27 April 2008) ~

 

  

 

Did you know...?

One of Dad's cars was the Ford Zodiac Executive Mk. IV.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Here's the finished Order of Service book.  You can download a copy of it here <click on the cover>.

Dad - Thank You

A son's tribute to his father

This is the script for Wayne's reading at the service

Did you know...?

Dad's favourite song of all time was Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

The funeral service for Dad took place at North East Surrey Crematorium but it was Dad's instructions to have his ashes scattered with Betty's in Kingston crematorium, nearby the rose garden.  Michèle, Nik and I went to make enquiries and took a look at the Remembrance book.  Gran and Grandpa's names are there and this is how they look.

And now, here's two other family members, my cousin Bruce and Uncle Reg.

Did you know...?

Dad bought a single doughnut every Monday morning, in Tesco, without fail.

SAD WITHOUT DAD

He was the force that dried my tears
He was the comfort of all my fears
When I think of all I had
I am left so sad, without Dad

Sitting, staring at the screen
Without him, where have I been?
With him alive, I felt only glad
Now it’s only sad, without Dad

It’s not just him that has gone
It’s the strength I had for so long
The order that kept me from going mad
That reminds me now why I’m sad, without Dad

Wonderful memories caress my heart
They mend and stop me from falling apart
I think again of all I had
Only then, is it not so sad, without Dad

 

Wayne Alton (22 June 2008)

That’s what life’s like now, without Dad here
 

Like one leg without a crutch
Or a feel without a touch
Or perhaps Starsky without Hutch
Is how I miss Dad so very much

To be a pair of shoes without the heels
Or a café that serves no meals
A chauffeured car yet no wheels
And without Dad, that’s how it feels

Oh, I’ve got the cuddle, but no teddy bear
I have the thrill of the rides but no fun fair
A never-ending road yet going nowhere
That’s what it’s like without Dad there

A group of cheerleaders, silent without cheer
Alone sat at the bar in a pub with no beer
A sad song and a hankie, but without a tear
That’s what life’s like now, without Dad here

Oh I could have a life of luxury and no debts to pay
To spend the rest of my life having my own way
But when I think of you Dad, d’you know what I say?
I’d give it all up in an instant, to have you back for one day

 

Wayne Alton (14 October 2008)

Did you know...?

Ellen, a customer from Tesco's, Purley, Surrey, gave commiserations today, 16 June 2008, by adding; "he was a lovely man... one of life's gentlemen."