Michael Penny 1917 2016 I Never Met Michael

michael penny 1917 - 2016 i never met michael so it may seem a bit odd that i should stand here and tell you – who knew him so well - ab

Michael Penny
1917 - 2016
I never met Michael so it may seem a bit odd that I should stand here
and tell you – who knew him so well - about his life. However I
believe that every person has a story which should be told, and that
it is important to do this as we mark the end of their time on earth.
So I’m indebted to Stephen and Judy for the information that has
helped me to prepare this short tribute. After that we’ll hear some
personal memories from Catherine of Michael as a grandfather.
Tribute
Michael was born at 11pm on 28th July 1917, in the family home at
Greenway House in Taunton. His parents were Will and Fanny and he had
an older brother – Dick.
Will was a pillar of Taunton society. He was Mayor of Taunton, a
leading member of the Baptist Church and ran a timber importing
business. His commitments to good works meant that he was often away
from home, and this upbringing may have inspired a slightly
non-conformist streak in his son.
Michael went to Sidcot School where he performed averagely in the
classroom and outstandingly on the sports field. He was captain of the
Rugby and Cricket teams and also excelled at tennis and hockey. His
school shoes, which were comfortable and extremely well made, lasted
him a life time and could always be polished up for special occasions,
which is why they are here today.
After leaving school Michael joined his father and older brother in
the family firm, TS Penny, which was based in Wood Street in Taunton.
During his apprenticeship Michael travelled with his father to
Scandinavia to pick out and order the timber that was to be imported
to England.
Michael was twenty-two when war broke out. As he was working in a
reserved occupation he was not required to fight and his family wished
him to remain at work in Taunton, where the company was now making
boxes for ammunition. However Michael wanted to join up and, in 1941,
he travelled to Exeter where he joined the RAF.
Michael loved flying – he flew spitfires and later became an
instructor for new pilots. He considered his time in the RAF to be the
high spot of his life and wished to make flying his career. Instead,
he bowed to family pressure and returned to the timber business.
Michael met Jean Crease at the Woodstock Road tennis club. They were
married in 1946 at Wilton Church in Taunton and settled in Lewis Road,
where Stephen was born. The family then moved to Little Canonsgrove,
in Trull, where Michael and Jean were to live for more than forty
years.
Sport continued to be an important part of Michael’s life, especially
tennis, squash and hockey. He also enjoyed gambling, walking, bird
watching and trips to the wilder and remoter parts of the country like
Lundy, the Scillies and the Lake District. Harlyn Bay in Cornwall was
a regular spot for family holidays. He and Jean were very sociable,
entertaining friends at Little Canonsgrove and Michael would play
tennis and croquet with Stephen and take him to see the rugby at
Twickenham.
The rise of national chains, like Jewsons and Travis Perkins, meant
that the writing was on the wall for family timber firms. Michael
could see that TS Penny’s days as a timber importer were numbered so
he and his brother began to build up a property portfolio so that TS
Penny could continue in a new guise. When the timber business was sold
Michael went to work for Colthurst’s - the opposition – and later
continued to sell timber products. One of his jobs involved selling
skittle balls, which gave him the opportunity to visit pubs all over
Somerset.
Michael retired but continued to play sport – keeping his squash going
until he was 69. He took up golf and bridge and had many friends, some
of whom joined him on trips to the races. He was a proud grandfather
to Catherine, Lizzie and Robert and enjoyed their visits to Little
Canonsgrove.
In the eighties Michael decided that he wanted to visit America. Jean
no longer wished to travel so Michael set off alone. He travelled up
the West Coast in a hire car, visited relatives in Canada and
thoroughly enjoyed his holiday, which he continued to talk about for
many years.
In 1998 Jean suffered a major stroke which left her very
incapacitated. She moved into Beauchamp House and Michael sold Little
Cannonsgrove and settled in a centrally heated bungalow in Fivehead,
which he thought was bliss after the draughts and upkeep of an old
house. He continued to be devoted to Jean, visiting her every day
until her death in 2003.
Michael moved into Beauchamp House in 2008 and lived happily there for
the rest of his life. He was much loved by the staff and remained
healthy both physically and mentally. He was exceedingly grateful to
have had a long and happy life.
Catherine, would you now like to share your memories:
Catherine’s tribute
Dad's going to say a bit at the party later but I’m going to mention
some grandchildren memories of Michael.
One of the oldest is an indirect memory in a way – when we were
growing up, Lizzie, Robert and I all learnt from Dad how Michael had
taught him - firmly - not to be a bad loser, after a game of croquet –
and that’s still what I think of if I’m tempted to be moody after
losing something.
We remember Michael, and Jean, as loving grandparents. The warmth and
fun of the atmosphere at Little Cannonsgrove, Jean and Michael’s happy
marriage. Their home was very cosy, in the kitchen with the ticking
clock, with cans if Lilt lined up in the larder - that Lizzie loved,
carob for Robert because we thought he had a daily intolerance, in the
playroom with the dark red stove, the TV with Michael's racing,
snooker, tennis or any other sport on, and the views of the beautiful
garden, around the Christmas fire, the annual ritual of wheeling what
at the time seemed like a huge TV into the dining room and watching
The Snowman together. I had a particularly lovely time staying there
once while Mum and Dad were away in Menorca – exploring the secret
upstairs, and going through Jean’s costume jewellry and button trove.
The garden was pretty magical with a spooky pond through an Orchard, a
huge pampas grass island, all sorts of fruit and vegetables, Bob
somewhere in amongst all of it, and cats Jack and Jill.
I remember Michael telling us his own memories of his family – his
understanding of his own birth as so special as two of his three older
brothers had died a year earlier, and his mother thought at 40 she
would not have any more children, his war stories, his grief at
mother’s death in his 20s.
Michael lived long enough to have a lots of life after Jean died in
2003. He was clearly devastated to lose her, and not infrequently
tearful about it.
But Michael was the positive man I've known. He bought himself some
trainers, that he called his crumpet catchers, and made the most of
what he could do. He was always raising our eyebrows about what he
thought he could do - not many months ago when he really couldn't walk
much he tried on his Speedos and wondered about going swimming, and he
thought he'd like a pair of ice-skates for Christmas this year.
Lots of people have sent thoughtful letters of condolence to Dad and
the family and some themes have helped me pin down how I remember
Michael - we and others remember him as kind, gentle, enjoying a tale
and some banter and particularly for his cheerful and optimistic
outlook - an inspiration.
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