Eulogy for Jim Lakeman. Jim was born James Arthur Frederick, to Solomon Ruben Arthur and Margaret Gladys Lakeman, at home in Chatham, Kent, on Christmas day 1947. Dad, Solomon worked as a site manager in the construction industry, and Mum, Gladys, worked for a pharmaceutical company. Jim had an elder sister named Silvia and a younger brother named Dennis and unfortunately they cannot be with us here today due to flight disruptions in England, caused by the bad weather conditions; our thoughts and prayers are with them also at this very sad time. Jim attended Chatham Primary School and went on at the age of fourteen to attend the Marines Cadet School of Music, where his main instrument was the clarinet. He was at the music school up until the age of twenty and rose to the position of Bandmaster – he so much enjoyed his music that he continued playing his clarinet up until the age of 48, when he lost part of a finger and had another finger crushed by a machine he was working on. At the age of twenty, Jim went into the building industry, following in the footsteps of his father. Sue met Jim when he was twenty one on a blind date. He picked her up and took her to a local pub; it really was love at first sight, as they decided to marry after only three weeks and five months later they tied the knot. Jim and Sue moved from Kent to Northampton in 1972, and it was then that Jim left the building industry and went to work for a packaging company. While working there, he met Michael who became a personal friend and remained so for the rest of Jim’s life; Jim worked at the packaging company from 1972 to 1986. In 1986 Jim started his own haulage business, which he ran successfully for the next ten years until the economic recession hit. The business closed down and Jim went back into manufacturing, working for a company called Beam Tubes. Jim and Sue had a Son called Carl, who very sadly passed away two and a half years ago. Jim loved his holidays abroad and would get away usually twice a year to various locations around the world. They visited many wonderful places, including Mexico, Cuba and Italy. I asked Sue why they came to Spain and she replied that Jim always said that he was going to retire to Spain. Sue’s Sister Joy settled in this area in 2002 and it was that connection that drew Jim and Sue here the following year. Jim and Son Carl, built their beautiful home here and it is a tribute to them both and their special skills when you look at the wonderful job they made of it. Jim worked around the area doing building work and refurbishment, swimming pool maintenance and even building the odd pool. He was a member of what is known as the ‘Tractor Club’, a group of mates who meet weekly in the village Social Centre for a pint and a good time together. They called themselves the tractor club because they lived in the country, and what do you see often in the country….?...Tractors. I am advised that Jim never had a tractor and I believe that none of the other members of the club own a tractor either. Jim was well known for his favorite saying, which was ‘I’m fed up now… we’re going !’ He was described to me as being ‘blunt…. to the point of embarrassment – but that was him and the way he was….. nothing was meant with any malice and if he ever ‘blew up’ he always came down very quickly and he never held a grudge. Jim loved his garden, and it is beautiful, he also loved all types of music, from Classical to Garage [maybe a place for his invisible tractor]. He also loved his music LOUD and would always pump up the volume. Jim also enjoyed the theatre when he lived in the U.K, liking comedy best, but he was not one for going to the pictures, although he loved action movies on the TV and hated ‘Chick Flicks’ He was described to me as ‘someone who was ‘too laid back to let people get under his skin’ and as has been already said, did not hold things against anybody. Sue told me a story that summed up the Joker that Jim could be at times. One time, at the seaside he sat watching cyclists going by, so he started saying Psst, Psst, Psst… at the people on their bikes and pointing at their wheels… to the point of some people falling off, looking to see what the problem was. Whenever Jim was asked what he missed most about England, he would reply ‘I miss the blue-bells’. Jim, you were a very special person and you impacted the lives of so many people during your lifetime. I’m sure that if I were to ask the question ‘what do you miss most’ to this congregation of people today… they would respond with the words ‘I miss Jim Lakeman. You were loved by so many people, who will miss you greatly. God bless you