We are all here today to celebrate Shaun’s life as a loving husband to Elaine, a devoted father to Lee and David and a loving grandad to Joshua and Freya. Shaun would not want us to be sad today, but to celebrate his life, and in his own words ‘give him a good send off!!’ Throughout his life, everyone who Shaun met took an instant shine to him. He was always a little mischievous, this may have been due to the fact he was born on April 1st, April Fool’s day. The day was always a ‘fun day’ for the family, it was April fools in the morning, followed by Leg-you -over afternoon, and "kiss catch” in the evening. Shaun’s dad was also his headmaster, and his sister, Kay, recalls that on one junior school trip to London, the waiter at breakfast asked him if he would like another egg. Shaun proceeded to eat 6 more eggs, setting a record at the hotel for the number of eggs eaten in one breakfast !! This was probably where his saying ‘I’m as Full as an Egg!!’ came from. Shaun’s father being a headmaster was quite strict and he received the cane from him on several occasions. One which comes to mind was when he was split on by classmates for calling Miss Coffee, a young supply teacher "Miss Coffeepots", making her cry in class. Lee remembers his grandad telling him that he saw the funny side of it really and that Shaun’s caning on that particular occasion was gentle. Still the joker at the Grammar School, Shaun instigated a trick to be played on a new teacher. The whole class attended her first lesson all wearing spectacles, but he never actually admitted if he was punished for that one!!! These jokes continued through his years as a father and then a grandfather. Even his grandson Joshua referred to him as that ‘teasing’ grandad Shaun!! Shaun and his sister Kay were similar ages and as you have heard, both occasionally misbehaved!! They would be sent upstairs to their bedrooms with their Dad in hot pursuit trying to smack them on every step up the stairs, but their mum would be kinder to then when their dad went off to Golf In his teenage years Shaun was a "Mod". He owned a Lambretta scooter, and that may have been how he managed to pick up the lovely Elaine!!! Shaun had obviously fallen completely head over heels for Elaine as his brother Vic recalls one night when Shaun climbed into his bed in the room they shared and began kissing and cuddling him calling out “Elaine Elaine!!” Shaun was always good at maths and he took great pleasure in telling Lee and David that he had to recite his times tables to his dad while they cycled to School. We think this may explain his long career in banking. Shaun’s first job was with Barclays bank in Crewe where he was often asked to be the messenger boy between the bank manager and the Halifax Building Society manager, Val, Elaine’s sister. Little did he realise that Elaine’s sister would later become his boss when he eventually moved to work for the Halifax. Val often recalls how Shaun was always immaculately dressed, as if he’d stepped out of Burtons shop window. Shaun and Elaine were married in 1975 and Shaun was transferred to the Halifax in Merthyr Tydfil. They moved to live in Kai Vellin Parc Herwin. Shaun soon made friends and as he had always been a good footballer, playing for the grammar school team, he was pleased to be asked to play football for Abervan which of course involved socialising in the Abervan Club after the match. Living in Herwin it was only natural to frequent the Glan Cunnun where Elaine and Shaun met some fabulous people making them feel very welcome in Wales. Lee and David were born in Aberdare Hospital in 1978 and 1981…. to Shaun’s dismay Lee was born at 10 o’clock in the evening and he was upset that he would be too late to get back to the Glan Cynon to wet the baby’s head. Lee remembers his dad’s old joke that the doctor apparently asked him if he wanted a banana for their new baby monkey!! Again Shaun had joke for every occasion. Shaun’s job then took the family from Hirwaun to Angelsey where again he made numerous friends. 5 years later he was promoted to the manager of the Halifax in Aberdare and the family returned to Hirwaun for 1 year before finally settling in Landare. Shaun being the local ‘bank manager’ met the committee of the ‘Con Club’ when they’d made an appointment to discuss their business finances. Tony Pugh recalls how an instant friendship was formed and Shaun was made an honoury member of the Club. Now, knowing Shaun, this was like winning the lottery because he had received something for free!! Shaun later served on the Committee for many years, and often used the excuse that a cheque ‘needed signing’ in order that he could have a pint with the boys. Both Elaine and Shaun enjoyed many Saturday nights in the Con Club, with him being the first on the dance floor jigging to his favourite Motown tracks. Shaun was also a member of Aberdare Golf Club for 25 years and he enjoyed his yearly golfing trips with his friends. He only missed out on one of these in the 25 years and that was due to his illness in June this year. After one such trip Shaun proudly brought home a trophy inscribed “The Beer Pigs Trophy”. When Elaine saw this she was annoyed saying, ‘Trust you to win a trophy for the best drinker!!’ Shaun and Lee laughed that day because it was actually a golf trophy that was named after his golfing team who had in fact won the tournament. Shaun was a proud and doting grandad to his two grandchildren Joshua and Freya. Lee and Tris recall the first time that Shaun and Elaine babysat for a 4 month old Freya and she started to cry. To placate her Shaun put on his music and danced with her for hours to entertain her until Lee and Tris returned later that evening. From then on Freya always wanted Grandad Shaun to pick her up and dance with her, and Shaun being Shaun always gave in to her! Joshua on the other hand had a book with a picture of a rhinoceros in it. During a bed time story session Grandad Shaun told 3 year old Joshua that it was actually Nanny Elaine. From that point on the whole family teased her and Joshua even referred to a rhino at the zoo as Nanny Elaine!! Shaun also thought it would be funny to teach Joshua how to play the Yes/No game, and this went on for many months. In the end Joshua would not even answer Yes or No to his teachers for fear of being bonged!! It was April 4th 2010 that Shaun visited Prince Charles Hospital due to problems with his coordination when using the computer. Lee recalls sitting with him from 1pm until 1am while he underwent test after test before the terrible news and the diagnosis of terminal lung and brain cancer. The family was heartbroken and cried all night, but amazingly Shaun was positive and was determined to fight the disease with everything that he had. He never once dropped his head in defeat and retained his great sense of humour. His outlook was that at least he had time to sort out things like his funeral, but he was determined he would live to see his grandchildren get married!! Shaun had a tough 3 months, but he was very brave and tried all the treatments available from radiotherapy to chemotherapy. He remained so positive throughout, but it was on the 5th July 2010 that Shaun lost his battle with cancer and he died peacefully at the Valendra hospital with his family at his bedside. Here is something Shaun’s sister Kay has written on behalf of the whole family in his honour We’re all so sad Shaun’s had to go, for he was still in his prime. All of us here, hoped in our hearts, he could have had more time. God must have had his reasons, to take Shaun on that day, It’s difficult to understand why, but he was chosen to lead the way. David opened the window wide, to let Shaun’s big spirit out, We’ll be with him again, when our turn comes, of that there is no doubt. All our memories and special times, they will leave us never. Shaun is deep within our hearts, the memories are there forever. But we know he’ll be with us every day and protect us all from harm. Just for now, it’s someone else’s turn, to enjoy Shaun’s wit and charm. Shaun we will all miss you, you will always be in our hearts and thoughts, and we will treasure the many happy memories you have given us.