Andrew Tibbetts (9 Sep 1980 - 21 Jun 2017)

In loving memory of Andrew Tibbetts who sadly passed away on 21st June 2017
Entrance Music: Morning has broken by Cat Stevens

Welcome

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us here today, as we gather one last time to say goodbye and celebrate Andrew - Springy’s life. I know it must seem very hard to think we should be celebrating when in fact, those of you closest to him are grieving deeply. He left us so suddenly we didn’t get chance to say goodbye and so we our sending our love and goodbyes to him today.

We send our love, comfort and support to those closest to him thinking of Mom and Dad – Fred and Sue, Emma and Ethan; Geoff and Angie, Derek and Silv, Maureen and Roy, Hilary and Tony; Wendy and Jackie and their families also we think of his carers Ade, Pete, Ness, Emma; and Josh and all their new carers at Black Country Care. Tears are very releasing and cleansing - so this service is a safe place where you can shed your tears, as you begin to adjust your lives to life without him.

We all have so many memories of him all those things that have him that very special place in our hearts and it will be the little things that we’ll remember most, the times we spent with him, celebrated with him; his smiles and laughter and all those little everyday things that made him who he was and what he meant to us. So today, we gather to celebrate his life, what made him tick… his habits and quirks. And he has left a little something in each of us… in our hearts and that will stay with us as long as we live. And we’re going to remember his life with poems, music and memories.

Poem ~ Feel no guilt in laughter

Feel no guilt in laughter, he'd know how much you care.
Feel no sorrow in a smile that he is not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever; he would not want you to.
He'd hope that you could carry on the way you always do.
So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you, a word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day,
That brings him back as clearly as though he were still here,
And fills you with the feeling that he is always near.
For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart
And he will live forever locked safely within your heart.

Hymn ~ All things Bright and Beautiful

Memories

Springy was truly a one off and today his story will be told with the memories of his family and friends. And I’d like to read you our first from his Mom and Dad:

Memories from Mom and Dad…

I look back at the day Andrew was born, the nurse Elaine rushing him to the Special Care Baby Unit. He would have a few good days then a bad day collapsed lung, then heart failure, but he came through not without problems but he came through it all. Getting bigger and stronger until he came home. It was said he may never be able to walk oh, how wrong that idea was he enjoyed walking and running trying to get away from me and jumping about which is where the nickname Springy came from.

He started school at Longwill School for the Deaf which gave him a great start in school life then he moved onto the Mount School, Halesowen after that Pens Meadow then Stourbridge S.E.C. Andrew then started at Pinnacle Support who carried on caring for him through his transition into supported living with his friend Josh along with Black Country Care.

I think we were all shocked how well Andrew settled in his new bungalow there was a few hiccups to start with but he soon got the carers drawing for him and there effort in getting to know Andrew and learning to sign paid off. I’ve fond memories of our family caravan holidays with Andrew running from caravan to caravan in bright red pj's also the many Easter holidays at the Royal Clifton Hotel Southport which became Andrews favourite place. I think he would have liked to live in that hotel, we have been on many days out there just so he could sit in the lounge with a pot of tea and a few biscuits.

It was there our family meet Frank and Rose a great couple from Manchester. Frank and Andrew became great buddy's, Andrew became obsessed with Frank’s tattoo we had lots of visits to their house every Christmas.

Fred writes: I could go on for pages about Andrew, his swing in the garden, his caravan and car I built for Christmas, his skateboard with the carriage on the back, his obsession with lampshades, his battery motorbike with the shopping trolley on. His love of trains, collection of purses, and every journey he went on he had to take his camera and have photos taken which would then have to be printed before he would go to bed. Getting undressed and playing caravanning in the garden shed I made for him. our tandem, his bike riding and me running after him down the hill (yes I could run in those days).

But the one thing I remember was his smile when i got things right after him spending hours, days or even weeks trying to get me to understand what he wanted or what he was signing. It took him almost 37 years to get me to this standard but he did it. He had a short life but a very happy and full one.

From his sister Emma…

I remember when Andrew was having one of his bad days and i ended up being bitten on the thumb and passing out. When i came around Andrew wasn't interested in anything else but watching the paramedic's and found it all very funny.

From his nephew Ethan…

I remember going on lots of family holidays with Uncle Andrew and going to the family club for a glass of coke and a packet of crisps.

From Ness…

My memories of Springy are the way his eyes lit up when you did such a simple thing we all take for granted! Like taking him for a drink and a biscuit or letting him choose something while out shopping. The smiles made it all worthwhile. The happiness when you took him to the baths, full of beams and the pleasure he got from swimming under the water and to the other side and him looking for you to see if you are following him. The way he always held my arm at every opportunity while out and about.

I shall treasure the memories of the times spent with such a wonderful lad. God bless you!

From Sharon…

I remember once when we were on one of many family caravan holidays we bumped into Sharon who was eating an ice-cream. Andrew being Andrew stuck his tongue out indicating he wanted to have a lick. He licked the ice-cream then took it all from Sharon and promptly ate the lot.

From Debbie Woolams…

I’ll always remember Andrew as a happy young man and can picture him now with that mischievous glint in his eye, full of fun and swinging dangerously high on the swing in your garden! That image makes me smile and that’s how I’d like to remember Andrew.

Fred and Sue... What amazing parents! You made life joyful for Andrew. I remember when Fred would take Andrew out in the car for his regular trips. Andrew's collection of purses! His love for his lampshades! when I think of Andrew I think of a magical world that he allowed you all to see! He was an amazing young man.

From Jean and Maurice, Faye and Paul…

As a family, we will remember Andrew after all we are neighbours. We remember when he used to come around our house with his Mom. One day he decided that he was going to share a meal with Maurice it was one spoonful for Maurice and one spoonful for Andrew. Andrew also loved his fisher price push and ride which he would ride along the garden path and down our drive on many occasions.

From Auntie Jackie…

I remember that cheeky grin and laugh he would give on a morning when I went to help him get ready to go out.

From Kate Todd…

I remember Andrew with his baby bottle between his feet laying on his back letting it drip down and the talc on the bed and Andrew bouncing up and down on it... what a mess that caused!

From Aunty Hil and Uncle Tony…

We remember when Andrew came to visit one year with his push and ride on toy and whilst in the garden Andrew reversed it and ended up in the fish pond.

From Jody Willetts…

A childhood memory I have of Andrew was when we all used to go and visit our grandparents, nan and grandad Willetts, on a Sunday dinner time. Andrew was always full of beans, running up and down the stairs. On the odd occasion he escaped through the front door with Uncle Fred hot on his heels. Rest in Peace Andrew, you will be sadly missed.

So many, many memories. Springy has now left us, he was a gift to us all and we will always remember him and hold him in our hearts. Let us now take a few moments to recall our own memories of him and what he meant to us.

Reflection Music: Message to my son – Solomon Burke & Eric Clapton

…Our memories build a special bridge
When loved ones have to part
To help us feel we’re with them still
And soothe a grieving heart
They span the years and warm our lives
Preserving ties that bind
Our memories build a special bridge
And bring us peace of mind…

Committal and Lord’s Prayer ~ Music: Steam on the Lickey Incline

Although it may seem all too soon, the time has now come to say our final farewell to Andrew, some may say forever but others just until another time and a better place. Let us be grateful for his life and for all the memories which we treasure today and let us allow our love for him - to be our light in this time of sadness and give us the strength to leave him safe in the knowledge that he is now at peace. Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever, Amen

Andrew we are glad that you lived, that we saw your face, knew your friendship and love, and enjoyed your company. Now, in peace and thoughtfulness we bid you farewell. We cherish the memory of your character and the things we shared together. We commit to our hearts and our memories your companionship, your kindness and your love. We now commit your body to its final end. We now leave you to rest in peace.

Closing Words and Thanks

On behalf of the family I’d like to thank you for all being here today, your presence is a great source of strength and comfort to them and thank you for the cards, phone calls and kind words – they’ve really helped. They invite you to Wilson Hall to remember his life further with them and there will be a collection, in his memory as you leave for Pinnacle Support.

There is an idea known as rippling which refers to the fact that each of us creates – circles of influence that may affect others for years, even for generations, like ripples in a pond. The one thing I’m certain of is that Springy’s ripples will go on and on and on. He has helped shape every one of us in this room and his shaping of us has affected how we have shaped and will continue to shape others. His influence is vast, ongoing and profound - and we thank him for it.

I know you all have 101 special memories of the times you spent with him and I’m sure he has a photo of you in his collection – perhaps he has a camera in his new home? Whilst he got frustrated at times he had a happy and full life and he was ours. We’ll always be grateful for the people we’ve become in our time together, stronger people, better people; remember we are his legacy.

We’ve been remembering a life that was important - and honouring life itself. It’s a gift which Springy had so enjoyed and which you and I are each privileged to have. So please… enjoy, and make good use of yours.

Closing Music: Steam on the Lickey Incline

Closing Music: Steam on the Lickey Incline