A couple of years ago I wrote my article for the Herald on Merv, a then 86-yr-old I visited each week through the great Didcot Good Neighbour Scheme. Under the heading ‘everybody needs a Merv’, I described how, although I was supposed to be keeping him company, he never failed to cheer me up, however stressful the week might have been.
Very sadly, Merv passed away last month. He was 88. I was given permission to not be in Parliament that morning to attend the funeral at Harwell Church, which more than 50 of his family and friends attended. It was a sad occasion, but happy memories of Merv were shared by many people, some of whom had known him for many decades.
I loved my visits to Merv each week. He was very funny and always made me laugh. Right up until the end, he had an excellent memory and could tell you stories about his time at school, or in the army, or driving coaches, and all the things he’d seen.
He was a big Chelsea fan (which I tried my best not to hold against him), and a big football fan more broadly, watching pretty much every game from whatever division, men’s or women’s – he was a particular fan of the Chelsea Women’s team and the Lionesses, the England women’s team – and could give you an opinion on any player or manager.
He was a keen gardener and grew lovely pot plants that he proudly displayed outside his home, sometimes giving them away (including to my partner when she complimented him on them). When he was more mobile, he still liked to put on music and have a dance round his living room!
The 3 things he loved most however were his family, his friends and his dog. His walls were covered in pictures of his family – not just his late wife and children, but his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His daughter Sharon had sadly passed away, as had his wife, Mary, who he was married to for 57 years ago and whom he always spoke lovingly about. His children Denise and Andy saw and helped him every week and he always talked to me about them and the rest of his family with pride.
He had great friends – none better than Roger, his neighbour, who popped round often to watch the football with him, took his dog for a walk every morning when he bought Merv the paper, and was always around to help him.
And he had his companion, Honey, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that he spoiled, who has now found a loving home with Hannah and Stuart. I feel very privileged to have known him.
