FUNERAL OF DAVID ALFRED EGGLETON, HELD AT 14.00 ON 22 JANUARY 2015 AT THE SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE CREMATORIUM AND MEMORIAL PARK, GARFORD

Eulogy by Jeff Eggleton

Good afternoon everyone, and thank you very much for coming here today, to celebrate the life of my father, David Eggleton.
Dad died on Sunday 11th January 2015 after a long struggle with myeloma cancer. This was particularly poignant as he had already survived breast cancer, unusual in men, in the mid 90’s.
Dad was many things to many different people, and I am delighted to see so many of you here today, as Dad had a wide circle of friends and interests.
He would always find a reason to talk to people, even if he didn’t know them. If there were an Olympic medal for ‘’chatting’’ Dad would be on the podium I am sure!
My father had clear priorities in his life:
1.	His family
2.	Friends
3.	The RAF
4.	Sports
5.	Latterly, the Church
Afflicted by a bad stammer as a boy, Dad chose to overcome this by making sport his main outlet; an excellent athlete he made friends easily that way and avoided the plague of bullying. He eventually overcame his stutter through practice, and by choosing his words very carefully!
He was a great sprinter/runner, footballer and swimmer when young, but had an interest in all sports really. Dad was inspired by Sir Ernest Shackleton the polar explorer, Chris Chatterway the track athlete who helped Roger Bannister break the four minute mile in Oxford in 1954, and also Sebastian Coe in later years.
Dad played a lot of cricket with the Aston Tirrold Cricket Club, and went on to become an umpire, spending hours overseeing fair play!
He was a founder member of Drayton Park Golf Club, and was a regular senior player who also helped out at all the club tournaments when he could. He won a tournament in 2006 (I remember because he rang me afterwards to tell me….) and never stopped talking about his lucky day, shot, by shot, by shot…..!
The RAF meant a lot to Dad as it gave him a career, motivated him, he saw the world three times over with the Movements Teams, and he met and managed so many people in his 37 year service. Accolades from RAF colleagues and friends have poured in since he passed away, and some of them allude to how people felt about him. Some examples are:
He was
-a ‘father’ of the Movements trade
-held in high respect and great affection by all ranks
-eager to help, he was strong and forthright
-one of the nicest men I have ever met
-a team player
-a role model, a mentor
-he was firm but fair
-a gentleman ‘of the old school’
-affectionately known as ‘The Exocet’ (a deadly missile) as you could see him coming, but could then do nothing about it…..!!
So, despite prolonged absences overseas with the RAF (not in jail, as I used to joke!) Dad always made time for the family. He was a huge supporter of my sporting endeavours, and he spent many an hour on the rugby touchline, in all weathers, to cheer me on. ‘’Get stuck in!!’’ was a common refrain- he almost got more excited than I did! He was indeed firm but fair, but woe betide any backchat or smart comments from me as a bolshy teenager!
He and I spent many years in different parts of the world but always kept in touch. A friendly game of golf when I came home on leave was always on the cards. Despite his absences, life at home was very stable and loving. He and my mother Brenda were happily married for over 50 years until her death in 2005, almost exactly 10 years ago. He had spent years looking after her during a very difficult time for them both.
After retirement Dad would for many years buy and deliver a daily newspaper for the ‘old folk’ in his immediate neighbourhood- despite being a pensioner himself! He and his Rowstock neighbours formed a co-operative friendship where they helped each other, and socialised together a lot. My personal thanks to them all for the recent help that they have given Dad when he needed it. 
In the last 10 years Dad re-discovered the Church, and was a very devout and enthusiastic member of the congregation at St. Helen’s, in Abingdon. He became a Sidesman and Greeter, which gave him the opportunity to get to know people and warmly welcome visitors. He was a regular at the ‘Child and Toddlers’ mother’s group as a way of further helping out. For a man of his age he showed extraordinary energy during this period. He fed his love of the church by joining a choral group, and also exploring churches all over England, including in his beloved home town of Folkestone.
I would like to conclude by thanking Barbara Earl, Dad’s partner in recent years, for all the love and support she gave him- in particular during the very difficult last six months of his life when he depended on her so heavily. Thank you Barbara, and also thanks to your family, who made him so welcome.
On behalf of myself, my children Morwenna and Jason, my wife Daniela and other members of the family, thank you so much for being here today.

End