Thanksgiving Service for Cyril Ayers & Ernest Joseph Epps
The tribute to Cyril Ayers:
Cyril was born at Chapel Farm, Tilmanstone in 1920, the third of six children. His father was a farmer & pork butcher, his mother the local baker. So I guess that made for a regular supply of ham sandwiches!
During the 1930’s the family moved to Ripple & when Cyril left school aged 14 he found work at a girls private school & later became a gardener at Ripple Court. When he was about 15 his father died & the family relocated to Walmer, where they attended Walmer Baptist Church.
In 1941, during the war, Cyril volunteered for the Royal Navy. He was sent to North Wales for his basic training, contracted pleurisy & spent his 21st birthday in hospital! He served initially as a gunner, then later volunteered for ASDIC – Anti Submarine Detection. Naval service took him all over the world including the Mediterranean, Suez, India, South Africa, Australia & South America.
He suffered two shipwrecks during his naval career. The first after being torpedoed off South Africa, where he spent several hours clinging to a piece of wreckage before being picked up by an American lifeboat. The second, was off the coast of Bangor, Northern Ireland. On that occasion he found being rescued by breeches buoy more frightening than being torpedoed! Cyril would later boast that his greatest war wound was a broken leg – an injury sustained whilst playing football in South Africa!
After being demobbed in 1946 Cyril came to live with his mother & family in Canterbury. He worked at Mounts Nursery in Forty Acres Road & was promoted to foreman in charge of a large greenhouse growing roses. His passion for roses remained throughout his life - & in retirement his garden was source of much pleasure.
He met Jean at Canterbury Baptist Church & they married there in 1949. This year in September they would have celebrated 60 years of marriage. Cyril was thrilled when daughter Susan & son Stephen were born in 1953 & 1957 respectively. He always spoke very highly of his children & grandchildren, whenever I called to visit, & with great affection - especially wanting to celebrate your achievements.
In his mid-30’s Cyril attended evening classes & was accepted as an engineer with Post Office Telephones – now British Telecom. At first he worked outside with cables & poles but later in the office as an Assistant Executive Engineer. The following quote is an extract from a memo sent around the office just before his retirement: “Cyril Ayers, the patron saint of external works control is to retire on 29th March 1985. I am sure that everyone who has come into contact with him throughout his 30 years service will know him as a hard-working, cooperative, truly Christian man, always ready to help others in both the course of his official duties & in his own time.”
Cyril served the church in many ways. He was leader of the Junior Department of the Sunday School, undertook sides-man duties, welcoming members & visitors until just last year. He helped provide transport to Lunch Club & enjoyed decorating the church for Easter, Harvest & Christmas celebrations. Together with others he helped redecorate the manse in years gone by & he also helped start a badminton club & cricket team at this church, for whom he famously scored a century on one occasion … a dusty old scorebook was found a few years ago when we were spring cleaning at church where that particular innings was recorded.
Cyril was always enthusiastic about sport, actively when younger but more recently he enjoyed watching golf, tennis, football & cricket on TV. Just earlier this summer we discussed Andy Murray’s chances at Wimbledon & the Ashes series now in full swing. Cyril also enjoyed music & sang bass with Blean choral society, where he became chairman for several years …
I only knew Cyril as an old man. He was 80 before we ever met & I enjoyed getting to know him, especially listening to his stories about years gone by. If I had to use one word to describe Cyril, it would be ‘gentleman’ – which I think is a much underrated quality …
Jesus is described as being ‘gentle & humble’ of heart. Jesus was a gentleman too.
Cyril was gentle – often showing compassion, empathy & emotion for others. I recall the first time we met he told me about a funeral he’d attended of a much younger person & as he described the congregation singing Shine, Jesus Shine tears welled up in his eyes. Until quite recently Cyril would turn up in the manse garden during spring to prune the roses. His gentleness was self-evident to all.
But he was also a man – big, strong, handsome, sporty, funny, smart, hard-working, generous, warm, hospitable, kind – & charming: I love the story of how Cyril could hardly swim when he joined the navy yet jumped overboard to doggy-paddle to another ship where there were rumours of women! Anyone who scores a century at cricket, at whatever level, has my respect.
He was a man’s man. He was a ladies man. He was a gentleman.
Cyril was a gentleman, a loving husband & father, a loyal friend & fine example. I will always be grateful for the genuine encouragement & practical support Cyril offered me throughout my time here in Canterbury. As I said in a sermon a few years ago, when I grow up, if I live to be 89 – God keep me from being a miserable old so & so, & give me a humble heart, good humour & an attitude like Cyril’s: one of God’s true gentlemen.
The tribute to Ernest Joseph Epps:
Ernie was born on 4th December 1926 to Eleanor & Herbert Epps, above their greengrocers shop in Folkestone. He had one brother, John. During the war Ernie was evacuated to a farm in Wales, which was an experience he thoroughly enjoyed. When he returned to Kent he worked in the Folkestone Corporation Greenhouses.
Aged 18 Ernie was called up for his national service which he served in the Irish Guards. Later, in December 1949 Ernie joined the Metropolitan Police, where he served for several years at Bow Street, after which he transferred to Kent where he worked for 4 years here in Canterbury & then for 25 years in traffic.
Ernie met Mary after being introduced by a relative & they were married in July 1950. Their children Tim & Alison arrived in January 1955 & December 1956 respectively. Ernie & Mary attended St Georges Baptist Church, now CBC, since 1952. As you have already heard Ernie was a BB Officer from the early 1960’s & served as Captain of the 1st Canterbury Company for many years. He also served two terms as deacon, was letting steward for many years & helped at Luncheon Club, until just a few weeks ago.
As Ray & Russell have already shared BB was an important part of Ernie’s life. The BB motto is ‘Sure & Steadfast’ based on Hebrews 6:19. In many ways Ernie was the personification of this.
He was Sure – in his beliefs, convictions & principles. Regular & faithful in worship, committed to contributing his skills, energy & time however he could & for the long-haul, not easily swayed by others. For example, Ernie was baptised as an infant & confirmed as a young man but never felt the need to be baptised as a believer, despite becoming a member of a Baptist church all those years ago. Ernie & I would have had different opinions about that, but it illustrates a sureness of character & conviction that was admirable.
He was Steadfast – reliable, disciplined, concerned & interested in others. For example, in recent years Ernie spent many hours sorting through packets of used stamps, cutting them, trimming them, putting them in larger sacks & sending them to BMS who are able to use them to raise funds for overseas mission. I took a boot load up to Didcot in my car a year or two ago & they told me they’d never received such a large quantity in one go. Ernie, had sorted them all. It was a tedious task, unseen by the majority – but witnessed by God.
Ernie was sure & steadfast.
The BB Object statement may seems a bit old fashioned compared to the kind of language used in modern youth work these days: "The advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness" is a bit of a mouthful! -but when you see that object worked out, in the context of a persons life & relationships it has a timeless wisdom & authority.
Put simply, Ernie was a faithful husband, a loving father, an involved grandfather, a loyal friend, a fine example & an earnest servant of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 6:19 – ‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm & secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus … has entered on our behalf.’ Ernie has already been welcomed home by Jesus, where I imagine he’s heard the great affirmation that should inspire us all: “Well done …”
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