Nik Hill gave the opening tribute
Nik Hill
It’s an honour being asked to read some thoughts on behalf of Len and the family and knowing how Eileen liked things to be done correctly and struggled with my sense of humour at times I’m hoping she approves of what is to follow, just remember Eileen I’m only reading what others have written so if you don’t approve it’s not my fault……..
First of all I have to thank some special people for their support to Len and the family during Eileen’s illness and also since her passing.
The GP Practice at Ogmore Vale, especially the ladies on reception, Diane the Practice Manager and Mel the Practice Nurse, your professionalism and empathy has been of great comfort to everybody.
Thanks to Dr Suba; when he realized back in 1998 after meeting Eileen for the first time that there was a problem he acted swiftly and contacted the Princess of Wales hospital arranging for Eileen to see a specialist the same day. The course of action that followed meant that, despite major surgery, Eileen was able to return home at the end of the week; without doubt, Dr Suba’s quick and decisive action enabled this to happen.
Eileen has been visiting the Princess of Wales Hospital for 16 years during her courageous battle and I cannot thank them enough for their support and professionalism during these stressful visits.
The Velindre Hospital in Whitchurch where Eileen has received chemotherapy for the last 5 years and spent her last few days were amazing; the support shown by all of the staff was second to none and deserve special recognition for helping Eileen at this difficult time. The out patient department at Bridgend also deserve a mention for their assistance and support.
For all of the medical staff involved in treating Eileen’s illness I’d just like to say thank you on behalf of Len and all of the family, you are remarkable people and we really do appreciate and value you.
One more special thanks must go the Lotus Club who have turned out today to show their support for Eileen and the family, great effort all and I know Eileen will enjoy seeing you all here with your cars.
The Lotus club featured a lot in Eileens life, their annual pilgrimage to Glynogwr for summer bbq’s was legendary and Eileen worked so hard at these events, preparing all the food, making everyone feel welcome and not taking a penny in return, she truly believed that it would have been immoral to take money off this poor little group of people who must suffer enough hardship as they could only afford a small car with just the two seats and the body made of plastic.…………seriously though, she loved her involvement with the Lotus boys and girls and we hope you will continue to come to Glynogwr in the years ahead, you are most welcome.
So, Eileen Stanford nee Barnes, what about you?
Eileen was born in Oxford, that’s England for those that might be confused, sorry to swear and to think she always made a big thing about me being English, but when she was just three she made the trip to Wales with her Mum and Dad, Bill and Marjorie; they packed up their wagon and headed West with the four children in tow; we are not sure what made them decide to settle in the quaint market town of Bridgend as anyone thinking about that same move today would be viewed with suspicion but back then it obviously seemed the right thing to do! It was most likely the fact that Bill had been born in Port Talbot and knew South Wales well.
Not long after the move to Bridgend another baby was welcomed into the family, Linda, and they all moved to Kenfig Hill.
Aged 11 Eileen won her scholarship to the grammar school, she was already very bright both academically and also highly competitive in sports, especially athletics.
She excelled at track and field events winning the Victrix Ludorum 2 years in a row.
When she left school she started work at the British Steel Company, attending block release to Margam college to study Shorthand and typing, she later returned to the same, but now re-named Avon College, as a lecturer.
During this time she also continued her passion for athletics competing for Port Talbot Harriers.
In 1969 Len and Eileen married and moved to Park Avenue, Ogmore Vale; Eileen took up Netball, her second sporting passion from her school days, and played competitively for Bridgend Ladies and also Mid Glamorgan County, she also had several trials for Wales.
No doubt some of her old netball friends are here today, she will be pleased that you have not been fidgeting uncomfortably as the toll of the knocks and bruises must have had an effect after all this time!
It was due to injury that Eileen was forced to retire from Netball but then discovered she had a talent for Badminton, not content with playing for fun she competed for Bridgend town.
After surgery in 1998 for breast cancer she finally had to relinquish the competitive sport she loved.
So, I’d now like to take you back to a memorable year, the year the England Football team won the World cup, 1966, that in itself was a fantastic achievement, but something more significant than that also happened…… Len met Eileen………….
A young(ish) man at the time out celebrating his birthday at the famous 4-7s country club in Llangyndd, that hot spot of international playboys from the valleys; it was the early hours of a Christmas morning when 6 or 7 young people returned to Lens parents home to carry on with the celebrations; one of the party, a young lady called Susan, invited Len to her parents house for a New Years Eve party.
It was at this party, on the very last night of 1966 that Len met Eileen and the rest, well, is history……………..
Ever since that first meeting when they fell in love they have remained deeply in love, not always friends, as is the same with all relationships, but always in love; their strong relationship based on working together, solving problems, making up and making a strong relationship even stronger.
Life was different back in those days, difficult to get in touch as there were no mobiles, emails and so there was more planning involved when it came to spending time together.
On one occasion they had decided to spend a whole day together on the Saturday; Saturday arrived and it was a beautiful February day, sunny and calm.
Len decided to surprise Eileen by turning up on his Triumph Tiger 500cc Twin Cylinder motorcycle, although she knew he had one she had never actually seen it; dressed like the Fonz with his black leather jacket, ice blue jeans, white socks and winkle pickers he was dressed to impress. No compulsory helmets in those days, so Len did not use one.
Although the sun was out by the time he arrived in Kenfig Hill he was frozen to the core; his future father in law answered the door and it was evident that there was no way this chilled rider was going to take his precious daughter out on the back of that machine.
After about an hour of thawing out and numerous cups of tea, Marjorie, Eileens mum and the real boss of the house, managed to convince Bill that Len was responsible and would look after their daughter…………peering over spectacles with a look that could kill Len could only answer nervously that of course he would…………
They insisted however that Eileen wore a helmet and Bill knew there was one under the stairs…..somewhere………..so he went to look; like most people’s understairs cupboards it was full of stuff that you don’t really need but don’t like to throw away; in this instance it was all of Marjorie’s sewing stuff, boxes of buttons, bows, zips, cotton reels, all came flying out as Bills quest for the elusive helmet continued……….a leather school satchel was also hurled out and Eileen and Len both made a grab for it as it was evident and highly visible that drawn on the satchel was a big love heart with an arrow going through it
with the words…….I LOVE THE KINKS……proudly displayed, clearly Len wasn’t the only heartthrob for Eileen at that time!
Len smiled and nodded approval (that’s why today we had Waterloo Sunset playing as we walked in behind Eileen).
Finally the couple got away with no more dramas apart from the fact that it was cold out on the bike and Eileen insisted in putting her feet on the twin exhaust pipe to warm up, her skills in physics hadn’t really materialised at this stage as clearly she didn’t realize that hot metal burns through Red leather shoes quite easily!