Because a story of Mum's life isn't complete without Dad's - and because we didn't set up a site like this when Dad died - here is the text of the eulogy that Russell delivered at his funeral in August 2017.
Graham was born in 1933, the only son of Eric and Emily Moore. He and his younger sister Diane formed a close-knit family. He was always the kindest of brothers, and when Diane had a road accident as a child and needed bed rest, he swapped his big room for her small one - and never got it back! When sweets were rationed and no boxes of chocolates were available, he made her a cardboard box divided into sections. He then filled it with Rowntree’s fruit gums, which he had painstakingly individually wrapped.
Graham was the natural leader of the neighbourhood ‘gang’, with Diane, Cath, Ann and Peter, his lifelong friend and later his best man. Graham and Peter, as the only boys in the group, spent many happy hours playing with Peter’s Hornby train set, and when they got older went train spotting together. Graham was always full of ideas and had the patience to tinker and persevere until he got a result. He successfully rigged up cocoa tin telephones which connected his bedroom and Diane’s with Cath, who lived two doors away, and they used these to chat secretly at night after bedtime.
During the Blitz, the family’s proximity to where Spitfires were being built, meant that Graham’s family spent every night for three years in the underground air raid shelter in their back garden. The war also interfered with his schooling, when children from the newly built Stechford Road School had to be given classes at several local houses for safety. He was obviously very clever, but to succeed in education at that time wasn’t easy. Graham had to have his books bought for him to use at Saltley Grammar School and while working full time for Tube Investments he attended evening classes in order to get his BSc degree.
After leaving grammar school, he joined the ‘Old Saltleians’ tennis club, and he first met Mary and her brother Albert, on a nearby tennis court in Small Heath Park. Courtship followed, but he was sorely tested on many occasions when Mary caused him to be late home for his 11pm curfew. Well he was only 23 years old! Probably more infuriating though was when their kiss & a cuddle by the gate was interrupted by Mary’s younger brother Albert, aiming a water pistol at them – not only was Graham late home, but he was wet as well!
The tennis club always met on the Saturday before Christmas outside the local wine shop to go carol singing. As several of you here today will remember, Mary and Graham continued this tradition for the next 20 years. The group grew in numbers as the members married and had families of their own. All of the money collected was donated to the Birmingham Mail Christmas Tree Fund.
Graham’s interest in cars began at an early age when he built a trolley out of old pram wheels, with a rope for steering, which could go downhill at some speed – with no brakes of course! He also enjoyed taking part in cycle speedway on local rough ground.
In the late 1950’s Graham joined the Birmingham Young Conservatives. It was not so much the politics that attracted him as the fact that they had a very good car club. At that time he was driving his first car, a green Morris Minor. He made a few adjustments and was ready to undertake some ‘through-the-night’ timed rallies in Wales. His friend Dave Hewett accompanied him as navigator, and very successful they were too! Success also came in taking part in the City of Birmingham Safety Rallies, which was a test of multiple skills in driving. After winning for several successive years, he was finally asked to stop entering, to give other people a chance! He amassed such a collection of silverware that he had to make a cabinet to keep them in.
Graham was a man of many talents. He mastered many skills covering a wide range of interests. He developed an early interest in photography, not only taking the pictures, but also developing them. Some of his photographs of the Birmingham ice rink and Blackpool Tower were used as postcards. In more recent times he took up video photography, of which there are many hours of memories preserved for posterity. Graham did everything to perfection. He said if he must dance, he was going to do it properly, so he went to classes with Diane and Peter.
When he first started to use a computer, he went to learn to type properly, rather than just typing with two fingers. In the early 1960’s Graham and Mary moved in to their first house in Sutton Coldfield. Graham landscaped the garden and also took up heating and plumbing. First, he installed a central heating system in Mary’s father’s house and then in their own. Having done such a good job he also installed central heating for his parents and sister. At the time, these were not just ordinary heating systems, but advanced ones, which typified his desire to explore the latest methods.
In 1963 Graham bought ‘Erica’ his 1928 Rolls Royce for the princely sum of £55. This was the start of a 30 year restoration project, but as Graham used to say, ‘you can’t rush a good job’ …. And he didn’t! To assist with Erica’s restoration, and to make life easier when working underneath the car, Graham decided that he could really do with having an inspection pit in the garage. He set about digging this pit by hand and in typical fashion it was finished beautifully. It had steps - and boards to cover the top, so that Karen & Helen wouldn’t fall in! For many years parts of Erica were stored in the loft, including the engine, which required an intricate rope & pulley system to be devised to hoist it up there. Graham enrolled at evening classes at the School of Furniture to learn cabinet making and upholstery. As luck would have it, the upholstery tutor was also training students from Slumberland to make mattresses. So, not be outdone, Graham made not only his own bed but the mattress as well! He also produced many pieces of furniture and curtains – all of course to the highest standard – he was a perfectionist after all! One of his pieces of furniture was part of an exhibition in Birmingham Art Gallery.
Following his time at Tube Investments, Graham moved to ICI and later IMI, which included the Rolls Royce aero engines division. Graham was instrumental in setting up the plant at Shotton for the production of Titanium granules that were to be used to make the aero engines for Rolls Royce. Graham and Mary moved to the Wirral in 1982 when Graham was appointed Technical Manager of Deeside Titanium and the plant was officially opened by Prince Charles.
In 1988 the opportunity arose for a second Royal encounter. Graham had been involved in a voluntary scheme to get young people in to work. As a result of his efforts he and the family were invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. He later became General Manager until, sadly, he had to close the company due to competition from the Far East, and at that time Graham took early retirement. When he left Deeside Titanium he brought with him the Stevenson’s screen and anaerobic barometer. For many years he was a member of the Climatological Observers Link. Every day a timer would go off in the house when it was time to record the weather. He kept meticulous records of daily rainfall and temperatures, with averages maintained in log books.
Following retirement Graham spent several years on the Committee of the Northern section of the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club, before becoming Treasurer & later Chairman. For 30 years Graham and Mary had attended almost every Annual Rolls Royce Rally, as members, but never in a Rolls Royce car. Mary thought that she had shown exceptional patience, and he should finally ‘get it on the road’. So, in 1993 at Graham’s 60th Birthday party, Erica was officially ‘launched & christened’. As confidence grew, they took part in tours and rallies at home and abroad, covering nearly 90,000 miles over the next 20 years. One of his proudest moments, was at the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club Annual Rally in 2003, when he was awarded the Douglas Wood Trophy for ‘Best Personal Restoration’
Graham’s interest in travel however, can be traced back to his very first flight with Diane to Paris in 1949, to visit her pen friend Nöele. Diane is not sure that he learnt much French, but he certainly learnt how to drink wine! Graham and Mary enjoyed early family holidays in Ibiza and Majorca, making friends who are still in contact today. The family also holidayed at home, although perhaps not quite so successfully. One of these holidays was on a canal boat around the ‘Cheshire Ring’. However, something went a little wrong when they managed to empty the water out of a staircase of locks. Graham was most frustrated as he was still on the boat with their dog, and unable to get off to ‘sort the problem out’. On the same holiday, they also managed to get a piece of carpet stuck around the propeller & Graham fell off the boat, into the lock in his wellies!
Holidaying abroad seemed to be far more successful, and they were fortunate to make several trips to New Zealand, when Helen & her family were living there, as well as taking in the United States, South Africa, India and of course Europe. Graham was always proud and patient with his two daughters, Karen and Helen and, unlike many parents, he was delighted when they took things apart – he felt that it was essential to their discovering and learning. To Diane he was the best brother. He was always there for her, always with her and she will miss him.And Mary says that they loved each other dearly and shared 56 wonderful years together. Marrying Graham was the best thing that she ever did! Graham has played a part in all our lives, and whilst he is no longer here, he will never be forgotten.