Brian Creasey 1937-2007

(Added 13 June 2007)

Some 180 people crammed into Metheringham Chapel on Thursday 7 June for Brian Creasey's funeral. A superb service conducted by Deacon Mary Dean had a farming theme which was truly apt. Brian's 17 year grandson Simon showed great calm and no nerves as he read a short piece dedicated to his grand-father. This was then followed by an address from one of Brian's personal friend's and farming colleague's Richard Parker from Metheringham Manor. The service was followed by a family cremation before all friends and family joined together at Blankney Cricket Club to celebrate Brian's life.

Below is the Address given by Richard Parker

Brian Creasey - Funeral Address

It is good to see so many people here to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Brian Creasey. Born the only son of Ted and Elsie in 1937 at Poplar Farm in Blankney Fen. He loved the Fen and remained there for the whole of his life.

Tanvats School in the Fen was followed by Carre's Grammar School in Sleaford and whilst attending school in Sleaford there was on the school bus a girl who took Brian's fancy. Her name was Jenny and she came from Dunston, and it was no surprise when in 1960 he married his childhood sweetheart and took her to Tanvats. In 1961 along came Jane and in 1963 David arrived.

Brian was a farmer through and through. He loved his land and his livestock; when he started farming it was in the era of cart horses, Lincoln Red cattle and also pigs. He was a great stockman and really understood his animals. He adored his sheep and felt that they pretty well talked to him. Jane told me of one day when he was moving his sheep with her help, and she asked him which field he was going to put them in. He said he would leave it to them as they knew best, and he had left two gates open. Needless to say, half went into one field and half into the other. This is not entirely surprising since the sheep originally came from my wife Ruth, and were therefore always likely to have a mind of their own!

Whilst I say that he loved all animals, that is perhaps a slight exaggeration in that he wasn't too keen on Jane's horses. Like me he couldn't see any profit in them, but conversely he was thrilled to see his grandchildren enjoying their ponies.

Brian had a lifetime love of sport. He excelled at football, playing for his school and for the County Cadets and, of course, for Metheringham. He also I believe had a trial at Scunthorpe. It would appear that when he used to play at Metheringham the players would coat themselves with some form of Embrocation which obviously was fine but sadly could be smelt on the person several days later. Jenny once made the mistake of bleaching his football shorts which would have been all right except that they fell to pieces while he was actually playing. He played cricket for the school and Woodhall Spa and later he was a regular member of the Blankney President's XI and I have to say he was never run out whilst playing for the Blankney President, which is more than can be said for several of his batting partners. He did play golf for a while, and was good, but found it took up too much of his time. Squash obviously played a large part in his life and we were so lucky when, in the mid 70's, John Lovely built the Squash Club in Metheringham. After about 2 years Brian became a joint owner of the Club and he retained that interest until 1982. Brian and I had some fantastic matches together. Always highly competitive, very even, but I did find that when I was losing to him, if I kept smiling at him it would unsettle him and he would keep telling me to take that grin off my face. In one memorable week he played Ruth and she injured her wrist and her ankle and had to give the game up, and then later that week he played me and my back gave out. He managed to dispose of two Parkers in one week - some feat. When I hurt my back I was in real trouble but Brian was, as ever, helpful and caring. After showering and changing, with some difficulty it must be said, he helped me into my car, waved me goodbye and drove off. Sadly he failed to realise that I was unable to reach the ignition and I had to wait for ten minutes until some poor pedestrian came by who I could ask to put the key in and start the engine for me.

After one particular and enjoyable evening at The Squash Club Brian was returning home with a case of Lemonade behind his seat. He bounced along over the Drainage Grips in the roadside with the Lemonade bottle stoppers exploding like a shotgun behind him. Not surprisingly he drove off the road and a rather shaken Brian had to be rescued by David Evans who was following. All 12 bottles had exploded.

Brian very much enjoyed his shooting, and of course the people and camaraderie. He loved people and was always interested in anyone he met. He loved farming and he loved the wildlife, a great conservationist, and woe betide anyone who did anything that might spoil his beloved Delph.

Brian had a sense of responsibility and he was one of those people who put something back into the community. He was on the Parish Council for 27 years and for 8 of those Chairman. I know he worked hard for the improvement and enlargement of the football field on top of the 1,001 other matters that would arise, a very conscientious Councillor who missed very few meetings.

Brian was first diagnosed with cancer on November 2nd 2006 and had major surgery in December of that year. When he returned home after the surgery he got out of the car and went to feed the chickens - just typical of the man. He also fitted in three days shooting before the end of January and before starting his chemo in February. He only knew two weeks before he died that the cancer would win, and he, again typical of the man, put his affairs in order, and said his goodbyes. It is agreed by all, including Brian, that he would have been a terrible invalid and that he would not have grown old gracefully. His philosophy had always been that he really looked forward to getting up every morning and he would even walk in to Jane and Adrian's house in the morning and call up the stairs "Where are you? Isn't it time you were up?"

The family have asked me to point out that the donations to the Thoracic Surgery Fund will be going directly to Esophical Cancer equipment at the Nottingham Hospital - in other words it is not going to a large charity but is going directly into equipment which is badly needed to treat the disease that Brian had.

The family have also asked me to say that they would love to see everybody for refreshments at The Blankney Cricket Club and they do hope very much that you will go there and they will see you on their return from the crematorium.

Jenny, we all know how much you have been through of late. You have been the most wonderful nurse to Brian and you have had the help and support of Jane and David and their families and you will have that for many years to come. May I say it has been a pleasure and a privilege to have known such a man as Brian, as honest and principled a gentleman as you could ever wish to meet.

A Countryman at heart, a kind, caring and loving person who was content with his lot in life. A Christian man with a simple faith that the seasons would inevitably follow each other, Spring would follow Winter, Summer in to Autumn and he accepted that life would go full circle.