Clifford Mark Boon (30 Jun 1924 - 24 Oct 2017)

In loving memory of Clifford Mark Boon who sadly passed away on 24th October 2017
Born in Ramsey in June 1924 – Cliff’s Dad John Larrett Boon was a farmer who later in life after some family disputes went on to run a fish and chip shop and game shop which sold rabbits ,hare and game of all types .John later went on to running a pub .

Cliff completed his schooling at Stamford boys school – finishing his education aged 14 and then finding a job in Foster brothers clothes shop in Stamford

He worked there for a short time from 1938 and then war broke out.

Dad wanted to join the forces and while he was working in Stamford he met a young woman named Doris and went out for some nights out – this was the start of a very long relationship lasting 70 years

it was war time and Dad wanted to join the forces so a little before he was really allowed to join he signed up to join the RAF and after basic training was assigned to head out by ship to Freetown in Sierra Leone West Africa –otherwise known as the White man’s grave

He worked in the war as a morse code operator there

During that time he would take mepacrine every day to ward off malaria, spend time locating U boats and relaying information of U boat whereabouts in the atlantic aiding the war effort and saving lives though his work
He was never in direct conflict with the German forces but he lost many of his comrades to Malaria .

He survived the conflict and returned to the UK and to Doris

Doris meanwhile had fought off various other interested parties while Cliff was away in Africa held true by her love for Dad and a rather strict mother who made her come home at 10 at the latest .

They married in St Georges Church Stamford on the 18th June 1945
They spend a period of time in March living with family and then they needed to find some work .

Although they were young and with no experience they went to bid to take a pub in Spalding named the White horse which was in a bit of a poor state of repair

They went on to spend the next 27 years developing the pub into the most popular pub in the town . The name of the White horse was synonymous with Cliff and Doris and they worked everyday including Christmas day opening the bar for their customers and would only take an evening off on a Tuesday to go to the cinema together

During that time they had three children ,Pauline ,Paul and Mark .Cliff loved the work ,always loved to both listen to storeys and tell stories whilst Doris was quietly bringing up the children and supporting the home

After 27 years Cliff reluctantly was persuaded to change tack as Doris felt they had seen their children grow up in such a busy environment and she had missed seeing the children grow up

They had saved enough to buy a house in Churchill Drive and Dad was approached by the social service team. He sensibly realised that being a publican was the same as being a social worker –listening to fellow humans and offering care and support to those who need it at times when they need it the most

Dad worked in social services for the next 20 years mainly with adolescents who had run into difficulties through their own challenging backgrounds He supported families who were poor ,isolated and unable to cope. He would try to help those families through experience ,though his worldly wisdom and with humour and warmth .

He retired nearly at aged 70 – but continued to write reports and assessed requests from families and individuals requesting money from charities

Throughout his years he loved Doris with all his heart .They spent all their working time together spent their leisure time together
Cliff in his 80’s developed dementia – over a period of 10 years his memory faded ,his health deteriorated and his body failed however his love for Doris remained to the last and each time she went with both frail and with faded memory they would say I love you